Hidalgo County Criminal Court

Hidalgo County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Hidalgo County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Hidalgo County.

Hidalgo County Criminal Court hearings

Criminal hearings in Hidalgo County will take place at the Hidalgo County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Hidalgo County Criminal Court Locations.

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.

Hidalgo County Criminal Court

Hidalgo County Criminal Court

What if I can’t afford an attorney?

The 6th Amendment guarantees you the right to an attorney whether or not you can afford one. If you cannot afford one, a public defender will be appointed by the court to represent you.

What is a Plea Agreement?

A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.

Mandatory Appearances in Hidalgo County Criminal Court

At a mandatory or required court appearance in Hidalgo 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.

Who can help me in Hidalgo County?

For general information about your case the Hidalgo 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.

What is Jury Deliberation?

After both the prosecution and defense have presented their cases, the judge in the case will provide instructions to the jury about what they must decide. The jury will be dismissed to the jury room where they will deliberate about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. After reaching a unaminous decision, they return their decision to the court where it is read aloud in the courtroom. If the jury is unable to reach a unaminous decision, the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury, in which a mistrial will be declared.

What is the Burden of Proof?

The term “Burden of Proof” means that the prosecutor is required to prove the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot provide proof of the defendants guilt, then the judge or jury in a trial must find the defendant not guilty. In the United States the principle innocent until proven guilty derives from this that the defendant is assumed innocent and the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.

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.

Defendant Sentencing

At a sentence hearing the judge will inform the defendant of the sentence that will be imposed. This sometimes occurs at the same hearing in which the defendant is found guilty (either by trial or plea agreement). In can also occur at a later date, most often this is due to the complexity of the case where more time is needed to determine the appropriate sentence.

What happens in Hidalgo County at an arraignment?

In Hidalgo County the defendant is brought into court and informed by the judge of the charges that have been filed against them along with informing them of their rights. At this time, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, there will be no trial and the defendant may be sentenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty a trial date is set.

Who is the prosecutor for Hidalgo County?

Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Hidalgo County criminal cases will either be a representative of Hidalgo County or a representative from Texas. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.

Hidalgo County Criminal Court Locations

  • Hidalgo County 92nd District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 93rd District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 139th District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 206th District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 275th District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 332nd District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 370th District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 389th District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 398th District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 430th District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County 449th District Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 87, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2200 Fax: 956-318-2251

  • Hidalgo County Constitutional Court

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 58, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2100 Fax: 956-318-2105

  • Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 1

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 58, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2100 Fax: 956-318-2105

  • Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 2

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 58, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2100 Fax: 956-318-2105

  • Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 4

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 58, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2100 Fax: 956-318-2105

  • Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 5

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 58, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2100 Fax: 956-318-2105

  • Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 6

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 58, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2100 Fax: 956-318-2105

  • Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 7

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 58, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2100 Fax: 956-318-2105

  • Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 8

    Address: 100 N Closner Blvd, PO Box 58, Edinburg TX 78540
    Phone: 956-318-2100 Fax: 956-318-2105

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 – Place 1

    Address: 1902 Joe Stephens Ave, #301, Weslaco TX 78596
    Phone: 956-447-3995 Fax: 956-447-9522

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 – Place 2

    Address: 1902 Joe Stephens Ave, #302, Weslaco TX 78596
    Phone: 956-968-0707 Fax: 956-968-8872

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 – Place 1

    Address: 300 W Hall Acres, Suite F, Pharr TX 78577
    Phone: 956-784-3540 Fax: 956-784-3541

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 – Place 2

    Address: 300 W Hall Acres, Suite D, Pharr TX 78577
    Phone: 956-787-1986 Fax: 956-787-9343

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 – Place 1

    Address: 730 N Breyfogle Rd, Suite C, Mission TX 78574
    Phone: 956-519-8422 Fax: 956-519-1796

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 – Place 2

    Address: 730 N Breyfogle Rd, Suite A, Mission TX 78574
    Phone: 956-581-2124 Fax: 956-581-2134

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 – Place 1

    Address: 212 N Twelfth Ave, Edinburg TX 78541
    Phone: 956-380-4473 Fax: 956-380-4029

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 – Place 2

    Address: 224 N Twelfth Ave, Edinburg TX 78541
    Phone: 956-383-0921 Fax: 956-383-7430

  • Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5

    Address: 708 E Edinburg Ave, Suite B, Elsa TX 78543
    Phone: 956-262-3300 Fax: 956-262-4413

  • Alamo Municipal Court

    Address: 502 E Duranta Ave, Alamo TX 78516
    Phone: 956-787-8689 Fax: 956-787-2575

  • Alton Municipal Court

    Address: 509 S Alton Blvd, Alton TX 78573
    Phone: 956-432-0760 Fax: 956-432-0466

  • Donna Municipal Court

    Address: 207 S Tenth St, Donna TX 78537
    Phone: 956-464-6942

  • Edcouch Municipal Court

    Address: 211 Southern St, PO Box 100, Edcouch TX 78538
    Phone: 956-262-2140

  • Edinburg Municipal Court

    Address: 100 E Freddy Gonzalez Dr, Edinburg TX 78541
    Phone: 956-289-7797 Fax: 956-289-1134

  • Elsa Municipal Court

    Address: PO Box 427, Elsa TX 78543
    Phone: 956-262-2127

  • Hidalgo Municipal Court

    Address: 110 Flora Ave, Hidalgo TX 78557
    Phone: 956-843-8104 Fax: 956-843-9187

  • La Joya Municipal Court

    Address: PO Box H, La Joya TX 78560
    Phone: 956-581-7095

  • La Villa Municipal Court

    Address: 916 S Mike Chapa PO Box 60, La Villa TX 78562
    Phone: 956-262-2122 Fax: 956-262-2516

  • McAllen Municipal Court

    Address: 1601 N Bicentennial Blvd, McAllen TX 78501
    Phone: 956-681-2900 Fax: 956-681-2901

  • Mercedes Municipal Court

    Address: Phone: 956-565-3114, x171

  • Mission Municipal Court

    Address: 1200 E 8th St, Mission TX 78572
    Phone: 956-584-5150 Fax: 956-584-5159

  • Palmhurst Municipal Court

    Address: 4417 N Shary Rd, Palmhurst TX 78573
    Phone: 956-583-8697 Fax: 956-581-4630

  • Palmview Municipal Court

    Address: 400 W Veterans Blvd, Palmview TX 78572
    Phone: 956-581-7411

  • Penitas Municipal Court

    Address: PO Box 204, Penitas TX 78576
    Phone: 956-581-3345

  • Pharr Municipal Court

    Address: 1900 S Cage Blvd, Pharr TX 78577
    Phone: 956-783-7859 Fax: 956-784-7841

  • Progreso Municipal Court

    Address: PO Box 699, Progreso TX 78579
    Phone: 956-565-0241

  • San Juan Municipal Court

    Address: 2301A N Raul Longoria Rd, San Juan TX 78589
    Phone: 956-223-2460 Fax: 956-702-6407

  • Sullivan City Municipal Court

    Address: PO Box 249, Sullivan City TX 78595
    Phone: 956-485-2828

  • Weslaco Municipal Court

    Address: 901 N Airport Dr, Weslaco TX 78596
    Phone: 956-968-6123 Fax: 956-973-3167

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