Municipal Court

If you have questions regarding your in-person appearance, please contact the Court at 713-465-5646 or email:  court@cityofhunterscreek.com.

Regular business hours: Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Court Personnel

Presiding Judge Mark Easley

Associate Judge Anita James

Associate Judge Heather Nelson

Associate Judge Adam Voyles

Prosecutor Tim Kirwin

Prosecutor Ozraa Dhanani

Purpose and Mission

The City’s Municipal Court is the judicial branch of the government of the City of Hunters Creek Village. The City’s Municipal Court provides an accessible legal forum for individuals to have their court matters heard in a fair and efficient manner, while providing a high level of integrity, professionalism, and customer service. Court services are increasingly available online, by telephone, email, and through the mail.

The City’s Municipal Court adjudicate Class C misdemeanor cases most of which are criminal, including traffic, city ordinance, state code, juvenile, and disabled parking.

The Municipal Court is responsible for the collection of fines, fees, and State costs: filing citations/complaints; court scheduling; issuing, tracking, and clearing warrants; maintaining court records and reporting collection, conviction, and statistical data to the appropriate State agencies.

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Citation Information

Fines and court costs may be paid by mail or in person at least one day prior to a scheduled appearance. Payments made by mail can be made in the form of a money order or cashier’s check. Payments made in person may be made in the form of cash, money order, cashier’s check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express. Payments can also be made on-line at www.trafficpayment.com, or you can call 1-800-444-1187.

A second or subsequent conviction of an offense under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act will result in the suspension of your driver’s license and motor vehicle registration unless you file and maintain proof of financial responsibility with the Department of Public Safety for two years from the date of convictions. The Department may waive the requirement to file proof of financial responsibility if you file satisfactory evidence with the department showing that at the time this citation was issued, the vehicle was covered by a liability insurance policy or that you were otherwise exempt from the requirements to provide evidence of financial responsibility.

Failure to appear in court, as provided by law, for the presentation of the offense, may result in denial of driver’s license renewal and a warrant of arrest will be issued. Motions of Continuances or Resets must be done in person, at least one day prior to your scheduled court date.  Resets are not allowed by phone.

Defendant Rights

Your signature on the citation you have received is not a plea of guilty. You have the right to:

• Appear in court and contest the charges filed against you
• Have a trial by either a judge or jury

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Juveniles

Defendants under 17 years of age must appear with a parent or legal guardian. Parents can be compelled to attend their child’s court sessions. Although parents may not act as a representative of the juvenile or enter a plea for the juvenile, they will be allowed to stand before the bench and confer with the juvenile during most court proceedings.

The Hunters Creek Village Municipal Court has adopted a Youth Diversion Plan in accordance with Subchapter E, Chapter 45 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, as mandated by H.B. 3186 (88th Legislative Session).

Under this plan, the Court will implement Diversion by Judge pursuant to Article 45.310. Diversion strategies may include community service, educational programs, or other appropriate alternatives, as outlined in Article 45.305. The selection of a strategy will depend on the availability of programs, the specific needs of the child, and the long-term safety of the community.

Youth cases shall be diverted before and without entry of a plea, or after trial, as required by Subchapter E, Chapter 45.

A copy of the Youth Diversion Plan will be maintained on file and made available for public inspection at the Hunters Creek Village Municipal Court.

Court Appearances

Persons who have been charged, may enter their plea on the charge in one of three ways:

• Guilty. Pay fine and costs.
• Not Guilty. You are requesting a trial. You must see the prosecutor before leaving the building to get a trial date and time.
• No Contendre. (no contest). You have opted to not contest the charge and the punishment is at the discretion of the court.

These charges, if corrected within twenty(20) working days of the date of the citation or before the date of your first appearance, whichever comes later, must present proof of compliance prior to your court date at the clerk’s office. An administrative fee of not more than $20, based on the Transportation Code Statue dealing with that specific charge. This fee must be paid immediately to the clerk at the time of dismissal.

If you are determined by the court to have insufficient resources or income to pay, the court may provide alternative ways to satisfy the judgement. 

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Driving Safety Courses

You may be able to request that a moving violation be dismissed by taking a driving safety course. In order to be eligible for the driving safety course, you must:

• Have a valid Texas operator’s license.
• Have liability insurance or other proof of financial responsibility.
• You must not have completed DSC under Article 45.0511, C.C.P., in the 12 months preceding the date of your offense or be presently authorized to take a driving safety course by another court.

Not eligible:

• If you are charged with speeding 25 miles or more over the posted limit, you are not eligible for a driving safety course.
• If you have a commercial driver’s license, you are not eligible for a “DSC.”
• If you are charged with a moving violation in a construction zone and workers are present, you are not eligible for DSC or Deferred Disposition.

You will have 90 days within which to take the course and file with the court a certificate of completion and a copy of your driving record. A special fee will be due and must be paid immediately upon the effective date of the application and order. Failure to strictly comply with the terms and conditions of the deferment order may result in the deferment being revoked and a judgment of guilty being entered and the imposition of the fine and costs of court.

Failure to appear in court, as provided by law, for the presentation of the offense, may result in denial of driver’s license renewal and a warrant of arrest will be issued.

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Deferred Disposition

To be eligible for Deferred Disposition, you must not:

1. Have been convicted of the same offense within the preceding 12 months
2. Have been on deferred disposition in this Court within the past 12 months
3. Be on deferred disposition in any court at the time of the request or have been on deferred disposition in any court within the previous 12 months

The conditions of the deferment shall be 120 to 180 days without receiving a moving violation and payment of the deferment fee, and if the driver is under 25 years of age or if a driving safety course is required due to excessive speed, complete a State-approved Driving Safety Course and submit to the Court the court copy of the certificate of completion. Failure to strictly comply with the deferment order may result in revocation of the deferment and entry of a judgment of guilty and imposition of a fine and costs.

Upon successful completion of the Deferred Disposition or Driving Safety Course, the charge will be dismissed (see Show Cause and Compliance Hearing).

Show Cause & Compliance Hearing

If you fail to comply a show cause hearing will be assigned to you. The date and time of the hearing will be shown on the documents mailed to you. This is the only notice you will receive of this hearing.

You must be present at this hearing unless you are excused in writing prior to the hearing. Unless excused, failure to attend the hearing will cause the case to result in a conviction, a payment due of a fine plus court costs, and the conviction will be reported as required by law.

Court Conduct / Dress Code

Under the inherent power and duty of all Texas courts as codified in Section 21.002, Government Code, the following Rules of Decorum shall apply and govern all proceedings before the Municipal Court.

CONDUCT REQUIRED OF ALL PERSONS WHILE ATTENDING COURT.

While the Court is in session there shall be:
A. No reading of newspapers or magazines
B. No loud noises or talking (this includes profane, vulgar, abusive, or indecent language)
C. No food or beverages
D. No gestures, facial expressions, or sounds indicating approval or disapproval.
E. No inappropriate attire. No shorts or cut-offs; No low-cut blouses or tops; No skirts or dresses that are short; no muscle shirts or shirts without sleeves, clothing with offensive, vulgar, racist, sexist, obscene, lewd, or suggestive words, slogans, depictions, or pictures; No clothing too tight, too short, too baggy, or pants worn below the waistline.
F. No weapons of any type
G. No unattended children, all children must remain quiet.
H. No Cell phones or pagers (Cellular phones and Pagers must be off or they will be confiscated)
I. No hats, caps, bandanas, sunglasses or any headgear, except with permission of the judge.
J. If you are intoxicated/under the influence, by Alcohol or Drugs you will not be permitted to see the judge, and could be arrested.