Remote Jury Trial Notice: Bexar County Civil District Courts
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Since March, the Bexar County Civil District Courts have continued to work diligently to keep the wheels of justice moving while keeping our community and staff as safe as possible through compliance with state and local regulations. Accepting that we are unable to begin in-person jury trials until 2021, and consistent with the Supreme Court of Texas’ Twenty-Five Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster, we have developed a plan to resume the hearing of civil jury matters through virtual courtrooms via Zoom. The Bexar County Civil District Courts are ready to provide virtual jury trials beginning November 2, 2020.
We have been working in cooperation with the Bexar County Central Jury Department, Court Administration, IT experts and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office to develop and refine procedures necessary for remote jury trials. These procedures continue to promote due process, procedural fairness and equal access to our justice system.
This is an opportunity to embrace technology, and we look forward to working with you to continue to provide access to justice in Bexar County. Toward that end, all jury trial announcements must be made at least three weeks in advance. As usual, all jury trial announcements will be made through Jury Monitoring, (210)335-2520.
If you are “not ready” for your jury trial, you have two options:
(1) Agreed Continuance: If all parties agree to the continuance, you may inform the Court through Lisa Dossmann, Lisa.Dossmann@bexar.org, of your agreement to drop the setting and reset your case to another docket; or
(2) Motion for Continuance: In the absence of an agreed continuance, you may seek a continuance of the trial setting by filing a Motion for Continuance at least three full weeks prior to your scheduled trial date, or as soon as you become aware that you are no longer ready for trial. As is customary, Motions for Continuances on any jury trial setting shall be set in Monitoring Court.
We understand that there have been considerable changes to rules and procedures during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. Our goal is to continue to conduct the important business of litigation while maintaining public safety and security. We appreciate your cooperation.
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