Court Observation
· 3 hours total – can be accumulated in any number of trips of any length. For example: 1 trip of 3 hours, 2 trips of 1.5 hours each, or 3 trips of 1 hour each.
· After each visit, send Bree Taylor () an email with the date, the duration of each visit, and the name of the judge you observed for your training records.
· You may absolutely observe for more than 3 hours.
· Please dress professionally for court. No sneakers, shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, denim jeans, snacks or gum. Cell phones must be turned off when you enter the courtrooms. There is to be no talking while the judge is on the bench and when the judge steps out, it should not get loud. Questions can be answered during those breaks or when you return to class.
· Observe all three judges if you like, although it is not required. You will not know the judge you will most frequently be in front of until after you accept a case. So you can take the time now to observe one or all of the judges.
JUDGES & DAYS
Mondays (Judge Darlene Byrne) & Fridays (Judge James L. Arth)
(Occasionally, another judge will be substituting on the bench if Judge Byrne or Judge Arth is away. Just be sure you are observing CPS cases instead of juvenile detention or divorce proceedings. If Monday is a government holiday, the docket will take place on Tuesday of that week)
Time: Court begins at 8:30am. Please try to arrive early to allow ample time to locate parking and find the courtroom. The judge often takes a break for lunch, and the docket usually resumes at 1:00pm.
Location: Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe Street, 4th Floor – 126th District Courtroom
Seating: CASA volunteers can observe court proceedings from the jury box. If you arrive or leave while the docket is underway only enter/exit in between hearings. You will be able to tell as all the people seated at the tables in front of her bench will leave. In the meantime, you can sit with the general public. There is always one staff person in the jury box taking notes in case you have any questions.
Parking: Centralized parking meters are located throughout the downtown area and take coins, Mastercard and Visa. Most are 3 hours; however, there are a few 5 hour meters 2 blocks behind the courthouse near Nueces and 8th. There is a parking lot located at 9th and San Antonio. See map below.
Directions from Mopac: Exit Enfield Road. Go east. Take a right on Guadalupe.
The Courthouse is four blocks down on the right.
Directions from IH-35: Exit 15th Street. Go west. Take a left on Guadalupe.
The Courthouse is four blocks down on the right.
Wednesdays -Judge John Hathaway
(Occasionally, another judge will be substituting on the bench if Judge Hathaway is away. Just be sure you are observing CPS cases instead of juvenile detention or divorce proceedings)
Time: Court begins at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. Please try to arrive early to allow ample time to locate parking and find the courtroom. The judge often takes a break for lunch, and the docket usually resumes around 1pm. NOTE: The Wednesday dockets vary in the length and types of cases heard, so if you plan to observe on Wednesdays please contact us to confirm the times of the hearings.
Location: Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center, 2515 S. Congress, Austin, TX 78704 (S. Congress & Oltorf), 1st Floor. When you arrive you will go through a metal detector, then immediately to your right you will see an Information Desk. Sign in at this Information Desk, and get a badge. The person at the Information Desk will be able to tell you in which courtroom CPS cases are being heard. Feel free to sit up close to ensure you can adequately hear.
Parking: Parking is free! There is a parking lot across Long Street, which runs between Gardner Betts and the shopping center. You should always be able to find parking in that lot.
Directions from Mopac:
Exit 290 / Ben White. Go east. Exit South Congress. Turn Left.
The Courthouse is 1.1 miles down on the right.
Directions from IH-35:
Exit Oltorf. Go west. Take a left on South Congress.
The Courthouse is .2 miles down on the left.
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