"Ask the Judge" Column continues in La Prensa of SA, 3-25
Ask the Judge: Procedure when coming to Court
By Judge Steve Walker
Here is a step by step simple procedure to follow when entering the courtroom building for Pct. 2.
Pct. 2 is located at 7723 Guilbeau Road #105 off Bandera Road. Normally most litigants, those coming to pay fines or other official business drive down Bandera Road either from 1604 at one end or from 410 in the other direction. Still others travel down Guilbeau Road from 1604, or Tezel Road near Coke Stevenson Middle School. When they arrive there is plenty of available free parking in front of the courthouse.
We neighbor with Big Lots on one side and Pump It Up on the other side. Our courtroom used to house a former Kmart that was split into three parts, our part being in the middle of the two businesses. We have 25 Constable’s Deputies and 20 clerks to assist you in completing your transactions.
Located in a strip center, other businesses include the Tax Assessor Collector’s Office, numerous restaurants to include MacDonald’s, Taco Cabana and Starbuck’s and other retail outlets. A Bill Miller’s and Wendy’s are across the street as well as an HEB. As previously stated, our courtroom has been converted and remodeled from a former Kmart.
Once you have parked your vehicle and enter our courthouse you will go through a metal detector. Officers will ask you to empty your pockets or check your purses. They may ask you if you have certain items that may set off the metal detector. Knives, guns, food and drink are prohibited from the premises.
Once you have successfully walked through the detector, you will be asked by the officers to take off hats, turn off cell phones and asked why you are visiting the courthouse so they may direct you to the right window to complete your business. Since we have different clerks who deal with evictions, small claims, and traffic tickets, the officers can direct you to the right window.
If you are at the courthouse to see a Judge say for a ticket or are a part of some sort of litigation, you still have to check in with a clerk who will pull your record if you are there for a ticket, or check that you are present for a case that you are involved in to include testifying as a witness for someone else’s case.
Once you have cleared the window you may enter the designated courtroom for your appearance. Last week we addressed courtroom demeanor which is an integral part of the process. Obviously normal manners in the courtroom go a long way.
“Finally, as always, if you are due in court, be sure to show up to court on time. It is in everyone’s best interest.”
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and a former Journalist.
By Judge Steve Walker
Here is a step by step simple procedure to follow when entering the courtroom building for Pct. 2.
Pct. 2 is located at 7723 Guilbeau Road #105 off Bandera Road. Normally most litigants, those coming to pay fines or other official business drive down Bandera Road either from 1604 at one end or from 410 in the other direction. Still others travel down Guilbeau Road from 1604, or Tezel Road near Coke Stevenson Middle School. When they arrive there is plenty of available free parking in front of the courthouse.
We neighbor with Big Lots on one side and Pump It Up on the other side. Our courtroom used to house a former Kmart that was split into three parts, our part being in the middle of the two businesses. We have 25 Constable’s Deputies and 20 clerks to assist you in completing your transactions.
Located in a strip center, other businesses include the Tax Assessor Collector’s Office, numerous restaurants to include MacDonald’s, Taco Cabana and Starbuck’s and other retail outlets. A Bill Miller’s and Wendy’s are across the street as well as an HEB. As previously stated, our courtroom has been converted and remodeled from a former Kmart.
Once you have parked your vehicle and enter our courthouse you will go through a metal detector. Officers will ask you to empty your pockets or check your purses. They may ask you if you have certain items that may set off the metal detector. Knives, guns, food and drink are prohibited from the premises.
Once you have successfully walked through the detector, you will be asked by the officers to take off hats, turn off cell phones and asked why you are visiting the courthouse so they may direct you to the right window to complete your business. Since we have different clerks who deal with evictions, small claims, and traffic tickets, the officers can direct you to the right window.
If you are at the courthouse to see a Judge say for a ticket or are a part of some sort of litigation, you still have to check in with a clerk who will pull your record if you are there for a ticket, or check that you are present for a case that you are involved in to include testifying as a witness for someone else’s case.
Once you have cleared the window you may enter the designated courtroom for your appearance. Last week we addressed courtroom demeanor which is an integral part of the process. Obviously normal manners in the courtroom go a long way.
“Finally, as always, if you are due in court, be sure to show up to court on time. It is in everyone’s best interest.”
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and a former Journalist.
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