On Thursday, August 15, 2024, the San Antonio Express-News reported that a civil court judge in Bexar County had rebelled against the long-standing pretrial case scheduling system used in the local district courts.

According to the article, Judge Christine Hortick of the 225th Civil District Court announced that she would no longer participate in the Presiding Court system and would instead run her own docket. The Presiding Court system had been in place in Bexar County for 62 years and involved pretrial hearings for civil cases being randomly assigned to different judges rather than staying with the original trial judge.

Judge Hortick believed this system was inefficient and unfair to litigants, claiming they had to repeat background details to different judges at each pretrial hearing. She also argued it could retraumatize parties, especially in cases involving children. However, the county’s 13 other civil district judges did not support Judge Hortick’s decision and remained committed to the Presiding Court system.

The article detailed how under the Presiding Court system, civil cases were initially assigned randomly to one of the 14 civil district judges when filed. However, pretrial hearings were then scheduled through a central docket run by the Presiding Court judge, who would typically distribute these among other judges. By contrast, in most other Texas counties, cases usually stayed with the original trial judge throughout pretrial proceedings and trial.

Judge Hortick had submitted a formal request to fellow judges in April to change this system but had received little support. She then informed them in May that her last day assisting with Presiding Court duties would be August 16th. However, the other 13 judges passed a resolution pledging to follow the local civil court rules and preserve the Presiding Court system.

When Judge Hortick posted about setting hearings herself on Facebook, the judges told the local bar association that “inaccurate information” was spreading on social media. They emphasized all cases must still go through Presiding Court per the local rules. The local administrative judge also sent Judge Hortick a letter saying she saw no rule allowing another process.

The article provided insights from two other senior judges. Judge Sid Harle said Judge Hortick needing her own docket was understandable but required changing the local rules, which needed majority judge approval. Meanwhile, the administrative judge over Bexar County formed a task force, including Judge Hortick, to examine the Presiding Court System and make recommendations for improvements.

In conclusion, the article noted Judge Hortick was recently elected to fill an open seat on the 225th Civil District Court. It explained some perceived drawbacks to the Presiding Court system from her perspective, such as potential inefficiencies and “forum shopping” by lawyers seeking a more favorable judge.

 

 

Source: San Antonio Express-News