Tarrant County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Tarrant County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Tarrant County.
Who can help me in Tarrant County?
For general information about your case the Tarrant 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.
Can I appeal a guilty verdict?
If found guilty, a defendant may decide to appeal his case to an appelate court. The appellate court will not retry the case, they will examine the proceedings in the lower court to make sure they were done in a legal manner. The appellate court can either uphold the original conviction, or determine that due to errors made in the original trial, that there must be a retrial, resentencing or a complete dismissal of the charges.
Can I request a Plea Agreement?
In Tarrant 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.
Jury Deliberations in Tarrant County
In Tarrant 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.
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.
Tarrant County Required Court Appearances
In Tarrant County, there are both required and non-required court appearances for the defendant. At a required or mandatory appearance hearing, the defendant is required to appear in person before the court. Failing to appear at your required hearing may result in a bench warrant being issued for your arrest by the judge.
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.
Prosecutor in Tarrant County
In Tarrant County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Tarrant County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent Texas. For the most part, the prosecutor in Tarrant County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
Right to an attorney
The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In Tarrant County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Tarrant County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Tarrant County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Tarrant County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Tarrant County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.
Tarrant County Criminal Court hearings
Criminal hearings in Tarrant County will take place at the Tarrant County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Tarrant County Criminal Court Locations.
Burden of Proof Requirement
In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tarrant County Criminal Court Locations
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Tarrant County 17th District Court – Civil
Address: 401 W Belknap, 8th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1567 -
Tarrant County 48th District Court – Civil
Address: 401 W Belknap, 8th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2554 -
Tarrant County 67th District Court – Civil
Address: 401 W Belknap, 8th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1569 -
Tarrant County 96th District Court – Civil
Address: 401 W Belknap, 7th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1570 -
Tarrant County 141st District Court – Civil
Address: 200 E Weatherford St, 4th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1588 -
Tarrant County 153rd District Court – Civil
Address: 401 W Belknap, 7th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1592 -
Tarrant County 213th District Court – Criminal
Address: 401 W Belknap, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1788 -
Tarrant County 231st District Court – Family
Address: 200 E Weatherford St, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1871 -
Tarrant County 233rd District Court – Family
Address: 200 E Weatherford St, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-844-1581 -
Tarrant County 236th District Court – Civil
Address: 401 W Belknap, 7th Floor, Fort Wort TX, 76196
Phone: 817-884-1585 -
Tarrant County 297th District Court – Criminal
Address: 401 W Belknap, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1226 -
Tarrant County 322nd District Court – Family
Address: 200 E Weatherford St, 4th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1579 -
Tarrant County 323rd District Court – Family
Address: 2701 Kimbo Rd, Fort Worth TX 76111
Phone: 817-838-4600 -
Tarrant County 324th District Court – Family
Address: 200 E Weatherford St, 4th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2569 -
Tarrant County 325th District Court – Family
Address: 200 E Weatherford St, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2572 -
Tarrant County 342nd District Court – Civil
Address: 200 E Weatherford St, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1594 -
Tarrant County 348th District Court – Civil
Address: 401 W Belknap, 7th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2787 -
Tarrant County 352nd District Court – Civil
Address: 401 W Belknap, 8th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1183 -
Tarrant County 360th District Court – Family
Address: 200 E Weatherford St, 4th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1899 -
Tarrant County 371st District Court – Criminal
Address: 401 W Belknap, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2538 -
Tarrant County 372nd District Court – Criminal
Address: 401 W Belknap, 6th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2541 -
Tarrant County 396th District Court – Criminal
Address: 401 W Belknap, 6th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2766 -
Tarrant County 432nd District Court – Criminal
Address: 401 W Belknap, 6th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2330 Fax: 817-850-2939 -
Tarrant County District Clerk Office
Address: 401 W Belknap, 3rd Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1574 -
Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 1
Address: 401 W Belknap, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1283 -
Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 2
Address: 401 W Belknap, 6th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1223 -
Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 3
Address: 401 W Belknap, 7th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1973 -
Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 4
Address: 401 W Belknap, 8th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1230 -
Tarrant County District Clerk Office
Address: 401 W Belknap, 3rd Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1343 -
Tarrant County Constitutional Court
Address: 100 E Weatherford St, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1195 -
Tarrant County Civil Court at Law No. 1
Address: 100 W Weatherford St, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1485 Fax: 817-884-3254 -
Tarrant County Civil Court at Law No. 2
Address: 100 W Weatherford St, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1247 Fax: 817-884-1393 -
Tarrant County Civil Court at Law No. 3
Address: 100 W Weatherford St, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1440 Fax: 817-884-2964 -
Tarrant County Clerk Office – Civil Courts, Public Records
Address: 100 W Weatherford St, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1195 -
Tarrant County Clerk Office – Criminal Courts
Address: 401 W Belknap, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1066 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 1
Address: 401 W Belknap, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-3419 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 2
Address: 401 W Belknap, 6th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1218 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 3
Address: 401 W Belknap, 7th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1209 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 4
Address: 401 W Belknap, 5th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1399 Fax: 817-884-3359 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 5
Address: 401 W Belknap, 6th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2727 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 6
Address: 401 W Belknap, 8th Fl, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1065 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 7
Address: 401 W Belknap, 8th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2969 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 8
Address: 401 W Belknap, 7th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-2778 Fax: 817-884-3336 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 9
Address: 401 W Belknap, 8th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-3427 Fax: 817-884-3365 -
Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 10
Address: 401 W Belknap, 6th Floor, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-3428 -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
Address: 100 W Weatherford St, #450, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1395 -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
Address: 700 E Abram St, #200, Arlington TX 76010
Phone: 817-548-3925 -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
Address: 645 Grapevine Hwy, Hurst TX 76054
Phone: 817-581-3625 -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
Address: 1400 Main St, #220, Southlake, TX 76092
Phone: 817-481-8112 -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
Address: 6713 Telephone Rd, Fort Worth TX 76135
Phone: 817-238-4425 -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5
Address: 350 W Belknap, #112-C, Fort Worth TX 76196
Phone: 817-884-1438 -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 6
Address: 6551 Granbury Rd, Fort Worth TX 76133
Phone: 817-370-4525 -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 7
Address: 1100 E Broad St, #202, Mansfield TX 76063
Phone: 817-473-5101 (Civil) 817-473-5102 (Misdemeanor) -
Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Precinct 8
Address: 3500 Miller Ave, Fort Worth TX 76119
Phone: 817-531-5625 -
Arlington Municipal Court
Address: 101 S Mesquite St, PO Box 90403, Arlington TX 76004
Phone: 817-459-6777 Fax: 817-459-6956 -
Azle Municipal Court
Address: 613 Southeast Parkway, Azle TX 76020
Phone: 817-444-2541 -
Bedford Municipal Court
Address: 2000 Forest Ridge Dr, Building A, Bedford TX 76021
Phone: 817-952-2150 -
Benbrook Municipal Court
Address: 911 Winscott Rd, PO Box 26569, Benbrook TX 76126
Phone: 817-249-3000 Fax: 817-249-0884 -
Blue Mound Municipal Court
Address: 301 S Blue Mound Rd, PO Box 164129, Blue Mound TX 76161
Phone: 817-232-7097 -
Colleyville/Keller Municipal Court
Address: 5201 Riverwalk Dr, Colleyville TX 76034
Phone: 817-503-1300 -
Crowley Municipal Court
Address: Phone: 817-297-2201, x1290 Fax: 817-297-5073
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Dalworthington Gardens Municipal Court
Address: 2600 Roosevelt Dr, Dalworthington Gardens TX 76016
Phone: 817-274-7662 -
Edgecliff Village Municipal Court
Address: 1605 Edgecliff Rd, Edgecliff Village TX 76134
Phone: 817-293-4313 Fax: 817-293-8726 -
Euless Municipal Court
Address: 1102 W Euless Blvd, Euless TX 76040
Phone: 817-685-1460 -
Everman Municipal Court
Address: 212 N Race St, Everman TX 76140
Phone: 817-293-0588 Fax: 817-551-7549 -
Forest Hill Municipal Court
Address: 3219 California Pkwy, Forest Hill TX 76119
Phone: 817-568-3046 Fax: 817-984-8254 -
Fort Worth Municipal Court
Address: 1000 Throckmorton St, Fort Worth TX 76137
Phone: 817-392-6700 Fax: 817-392-6723 -
Fort Worth Municipal Court – School Attendance Court
Address: 5701 Meadowbrook Dr, Bldg 3, Fort Worth TX 76112
Phone: 817-492-7980 Fax: 817-492-7979 -
Fort Worth Municipal Court – Southwest
Address: 3741 SW Loop 820, Fort Worth TX 76133
Phone: 817-392-6700 Fax: 817-392-6723 -
Grapevine Municipal Court
Address: 307 W Dallas Rd, PO Box 2413, Grapevine TX 76099
Phone: 817-410-3284 -
Haltom City Municipal Court
Address: 5024 Broadway Ave, Haltom City TX 76117
Phone: 817-222-7773 Fax 817-222-7727 -
Haslet Municipal Court
Address: 101 Main St, Haslet TX 76052
Phone: 817-439-5931 -
Hurst Municipal Court
Address: 1505 Precinct Line Rd, Hurst TX 76054
Phone: 817-788-7045 -
Kennedale Municipal Court
Address: 405 Municipal Dr, Kennedale TX 76060
Phone: 817-985-2140 Fax: 817-478-4309 -
Lake Worth Municipal Court
Address: 3805 Adam Grubb, Lake Worth TX 76135
Phone: 817-255-9710 -
Lakeside Municipal Court
Address: 9830 Confederate Park Rd, Lakeside TX 76108
Phone: 817-237-1234 Fax: 817-238-9187 -
Mansfield Municipal Court
Address: 1305 E Broad St, Mansfield TX 76063
Phone: 817-276-4716 Fax: 817-276-4715 -
North Richland Hills Municipal Court
Address: 6720 NE Loop 820, N Richland Hills TX 76180
Phone: 817-427-6700 -
Pantego Municipal Court
Address: 2600 Miller Lane, Pantego TX 76013
Phone: 817-274-3869 -
Pelican Bay Municipal Court
Address: 1300 Pelican Circle, Pelican Bay TX 76020
Phone: 817-444-1234 -
Richland Hills Municipal Court
Address: 3200 Diana Dr, Richland Hills TX 76118
Phone: 817-299-1825 Fax: 817-299-1826 -
River Oaks Municipal Court
Address: 4900 River Oaks Blvd, River Oaks TX 76114
Phone: 817-626-1597 -
Saginaw Municipal Court
Address: 400 S Saginaw Blvd, Saginaw TX 76179
Phone: 817-232-4640 -
Sansom Park Municipal Court
Address: Phone: 817-626-3791, x100 Fax: 817-625-4344
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Southlake Municipal Court
Address: 600 State St, #1000, Southlake TX 76092
Phone: 817-748-8188 Fax: 817-748-8060 -
Watauga Municipal Court
Address: 7105 Whitley Rd, Watauga TX 76148
Phone: 817-514-5715 -
Westlake Municipal Court
Address: 3 Village Circle, Westlake TX 76262
Phone: 817-430-0861 Fax: 817-430-0967 -
Westover Hills Municipal Court
Address: 311 Burton Hill Rd, Westworth Village TX 76114
Phone: 817-710-2507 -
Westworth Village Municipal Court
Address: 311 Burton Hill Rd, Westworth Village TX 76114
Phone: 817-710-2507 Fax: 817-546-1727 -
White Settlement Municipal Court
Address: 214 Meadow Park Dr, White Settlement TX 76108
Phone: 817-246-4971