Burnet County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Burnet County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Burnet County.
Can I request a Plea Agreement?
In Burnet County you may be able to enter into a plea agreement depending upon the severity of the charges. It is also dependant upon the prosecution willing to accept a plea agreement. You can ask your attorney to attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid having a jury trial along with the potential for a more serious sentence. Approximately 9 out of 10 criminal cases usually end in a plea agreement.
Who can help me in Burnet County?
For general information about your case the Burnet County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.
Burnet County Criminal Court
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof is always on the prosecution in a criminal trial. In other words, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. The defense must only prove that there is a reasonable possibility that the defendant did NOT commit the crime. If the prosecution cannot prove that the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury will be instructed to find the defendant not-guilty.
Burnet County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Burnet County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
The Right to Counsel
The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.
Arraignments in Burnet County
During an arraignment in Burnet County, a defendant appears before the court and the judge reads the charges that have been filed against the accused and also informs the defendant of his/her rights. During the arraignment in Burnet County, the defendant can choose to plead one of the following 1) Guilty 2) Not Guilty or 3) No Contest. If the defendant enters a plea of Not Guilty, a date for trial is set. In the event of a Guilty or No Contest Plea in Burnet County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
If guilty, who sentences the defendant?
If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.
Burnet County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Burnet County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Burnet County. The Burnet County prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.
Jury Deliberations in Burnet County
In Burnet County, jury deliberations will take place in a jury trial after the prosecution and defense have presented their cases and rested. At this point, the judge will provide a list of instructions to the jury about what they are allowed and not allowed to do and what verdict options are available for them to decide. The jury will be sent to a private room to discuss the evidence presented in the case and attempt to reach a unaminous decision. When a unaminous decision is reached, the jury will inform the judge that they have reached a verdict and will return to the courtroom for the verdict to be read allowed. In the event that the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the jury results in a deadlock and a mistrial is declared.
Mandatory Appearances in Burnet County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in Burnet County, the defendant must appear before the court. In the event of a “Failure to Appear” the judge may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant. Note: not all criminal hearings are mandatory, in a non-mandatory hearing an attorney may appear on your behalf without you being in court.
Appealing a guilty verdict
A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.
Burnet County Criminal Court Locations
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Burnet County 33rd District Court
Address: 1701 E Polk St, #90, Burnet TX 78611
Phone: 512-756-5450 -
Burnet County 424th District Court
Address: 1701 E Polk St, #90, Burnet TX 78611
Phone: 512-756-5450 -
Burnet County Constitutional Court
Address: 220 S Pierce St, Burnet TX 78611
Phone: 512-756-5406 Fax: 512-756-5410 -
Burnet County Court at Law
Address: 220 S Pierce St, Burnet TX 78611
Phone: 512-756-5406 Fax: 512-756-5410 -
Burnet County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
Address: 1701 E Polk St, #30, Burnet TX 78611
Phone: 512-756-5421 Fax: 512-715-5221 -
Burnet County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
Address: 1701 E Polk St, Burnet TX 78611
Phone: 512-756-5453 Fax: 512-756-5402 -
Burnet County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
Address: 810 Steve Hawkins Pkwy, #2, Marble Falls TX 78654
Phone: 830-798-3212 Fax: 830-798-0313 -
Burnet County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
Address: 810 Steve Hawkins Pkwy, Marble Falls TX 78654
Phone: 830-798-3205 Fax: 830-798-3216 -
Bertram Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 1604, Bertram TX 78605
Phone: 512-355-2197 -
Burnet Municipal Court
Address: 1001 Buchanan Dr, #4, PO Box 1369, Burnet TX 78611
Phone: 512-756-2822 Fax: 512-756-8560 -
Cottonwood Shores Municipal Court
Address: 3808 Cottonwood Dr, Cottonwood Shores TX 78657
Phone: 830-693-3830 -
Granite Shoals Municipal Court
Address: Phone: 830-598-2424, x311
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Highland Haven Municipal Court
Address: 510A Highland Dr, Highland Haven TX 78654
Phone: 830-265-4366 -
Marble Falls Municipal Court
Address: 800 Third St, Marble Falls TX 78654
Phone: 830-693-7173 Fax: 830-693-4032 -
Meadowlakes Municipal Court
Address: 177 Broadmoor, Suite A, Meadowlakes TX 78654
Phone: 830-693-6840