Ector County Texas

Texas Governor Greg Abbott:

CLICK HERE to view Coronavirus Executive Orders and Waivers 
by Greg Abbott | Office of the Texas Governor. 

Supreme Court of Texas and Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas:  (View All Orders In Effect)

ORDERS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT

In response to COVID-19, the Supreme Court has issued the following Emergency Orders that are still in effect.

• 16th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 05-14-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9067

  Permits the resumption of proceedings in consumer debt cases but requires certain actions related to the stimulus funds that might be subject to a consumer debt action.

• 18th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 06-29-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9080

  Extends and amends the 17th Emergency Order, prohibits jury proceedings until September 1 but authorizes limited number of jury proceedings under certain conditions. 

• 19th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 07-03-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9083

Cancels the July bar exam, leaves in place the September 9-10 bar exam subject to guidance from public health authorities, and approves an online bar exam on October 5-6

• 20th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 07-21-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9086

Amends paragraph 3 and extends Emergency Order 15 through August 24, 2020. 

PREVIOUS ORDERS, NO LONGER IN EFFECT

In response to COVID-19, the Supreme Court has issued the following Emergency Orders that are no longer in effect.

• 1st Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 03-13-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9042 and 
  Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-007

  Permits all judges in the state at their discretion, and requires all judges “to avoid risk to court staff, parties, attorneys, jurors, and the public”, without a participant’s consent.

• 2nd Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 03-17-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9043

  Clarifies that child possession schedules establishing access to a child under a court-ordered possession schedule are not affected by the school’s closure that arises from an epidemic or pandemic and that the original published school schedule controls.

• 3rd Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 03-19-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9044 and 
  Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-008

  Modifies Emergency Order 1, prohibits judges from conducting non-essential proceedings in person contrary to local, state, or national directives, whichever is most restrictive, regarding maximum group size.

• 4th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 03-19-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9045

  Prohibits a trial, hearing, or other proceeding in an eviction to recover possession of residential property under Chapter 24 of the Property Code and Rule 510 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure until after April 19, 2020.

• 5th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 03-20-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9046

  All deadlines, whether prescribed by statute, rule, or order, related to attorney professional disciplinary and disability proceedings are tolled.

• 6th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 03-22-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-904

  The 2020 elections for presidents-elect and directors of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Young Lawyers Association must be conducted online only, by electronic vote, and not by paper ballot. The voting period is extended to May 29, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.

• 7th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 03-24-2020);
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9050

  Clarifies possession schedules in Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR). For purposes of determining a person’s right to possession of and access to a child under a court-ordered possession schedule, the existing trial court order shall control in all instances. Possession of and access to a child shall not be affected by any shelter-in-place order or other order restricting movement issued by a governmental entity.
  

• 8th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 04-01-2020);
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9051

  Amends the First Emergency Order to delay all service and statute-of-limitations deadlines in civil cases from March 13 until June 1. The order does not affect deadlines for filing appeals or other appellate proceedings, but the order notes that requests for any such relief from those deadlines should be generously granted by the particular court.
  

• 9th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 04-06-2020);
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9052

  Extends Emergency Order 4, prohibiting a trial, hearing, or other proceeding in an eviction to recover possession of residential property under Chapter 24 of the Property Code and Rule 510 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure until after April 30, 2020.

• 10th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 04-09-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9054
  

  Relating to actions in collecting consumer debt as defined by Texas Finance Code Section 392.001(2).

• 11th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 04-09-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9055

  Expands all deadlines related to the Judicial Branch Certification Commission until May 31, 2020.

• 12th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 04-27-2020);
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9059

  Clarified and amends the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, and 11^th Emergency Orders.
  

• 13th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 04-29-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9060

  Allows those registered for the July Bar Exam to withdraw and register for a future exam and directs the Board of Law Examiners to consider additional changes if the July Bar Exam cannot be held due to COVID-19.

• 14th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 04-29-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9061

  Amends and extends the 10th Emergency Order regarding the collection of consumer debt.

• 15th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 05-14-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9066

  Permits the resumption of eviction proceedings on May 19 but requires a sworn petition to state that the premises are not subject to the moratorium on evictions imposed by the CARES Act.

• 17th Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (issued 05-26-2020); 
  Supreme Court of Texas Misc. Docket No. 20-9071

  Extends and amends paragraphs 3, 4, 5, 6, & 9 of the 12th Emergency Order, prohibits jury proceedings until August 1 but authorizes limited number of jury proceedings under certain conditions.

Texas Judicial Branch:

• The Texas Judicial Branch has published a YouTube channel directory listing of courts convening via Zoom.  Court channels are listed in order of the surname of the presiding judge. 

District Courts:

• COVID-19 Operating Plan for the Ector County Judiciary (entered 05-27-2020)

• Amended Temporary Emergency Order (entered 05-28-2020); 70th, 161st, 244th, and 358th Judicial District Courts of Ector County

• Temporary Emergency Order Regarding Proceedings Before the 446th Judicial District Court of Ector County, Texas

Child Protection Court:

• Standing Order; Ector County Child Protection Court

Title IV-D Child Support Court:

• Effective Wednesday, April 8, 2020, the Title IV-D Court will resume holding digital access hearings via ZOOM on child support cases filed by the Office of Attorney General.
  
  
• Attorneys and Self-Represented Litigants can reach the local Office of Attorney General via email: CustomerService.Odessa163@oag.texas.gov. 

County Court and County Courts at Law:

• First Amended Temporary Emergency Order with Regard to Proceedings Before the County Court and County Courts at Law of Ector County, Texas

District Clerk's Office:

• District Clerk Services Public Service Announcement Regarding Changes in Availability 
  
  • In-person (face-to-face) customers will be assisted by the clerk staff only if they have an actual hearing on that date.
  • Other special circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Please call our office to discuss options which may be available to meet your specific needs.
  • Passport Facility Services are temporarily suspended until further notice.
  • Court Clerk Services will continue to be provided as necessary to support the local Courts.
  • Court filings submitted through eFile Texas and U.S. Mail will continue to be worked.
  • District Clerk staff are available via:
    • Telephone: (432) 498-4290, and
    • Email: District.Clerk@ectorcountytx.gov. 

Additional Helpful Link:

• CLICK HERE to view information and orders maintained by the State Bar of Texas regarding the
  Response to Coronavirus Pandemic by cities and counties across Texas.