County Commissioners postpone vote to adopt resolution in support of creating new district courts until Nov. 18

By Brandi Hart
McKinneyUpdate.com editor

The Collin County Commissioners Court talked about potential issues that could arise in the upcoming 81st Texas Legislature session, which includes the court voting on a resolution to send to local legislatures that would be in favor of possibly adding new district courts.

Commissioner for Precinct 1 Phyllis Cole said she was in favor of approving a resolution to create at least one additional court but not three.

"I would not go for zero but can't go three. If we don't add courts, then we'll run the risk of not having new courts for six years," Cole said.

Collin County will get a new district court in January, 2009 and numerous district judges and some local attorneys feel the county is in dyer need of additional courts. One of those judges is 296th District Court Judge John Roach, Jr.

He said in the public comment period at the meeting that Collin County as a whole is above average in so many ways and asked the commissioners why the district courts should not be above average as well.

"Not creating courts does not hurt judges. You're not hurting us if you don't create courts. I have 1,400 cases at any given time and dispose of 180 to 200 cases per month," Roach said.

However, he is also receives 225 to 250 new cases per month, Roach said.

The Collin County Board of District Judges voted unanimously to ask for three new courts to be created in Collin County, Roach said.

Collin County Judge Keith Self said that the county will have a new district court that will open in January 2009 and that the number of cases per court has remained very flat.

Roach also said that the district court judges have tried to save the taxpayers money, much like the commissioners, by creating a video conferencing system where the judges work from home.

McKinney attorney Richard Abernathy also spoke in the public comment period about the need for more district courts. He represents many public school districts, municipalities and colleges in Collin County and in the region who have legal disputes in Collin County courts, he said.

"I'm asking you to approve at least one court," Abernathy said.

Abernathy specifically told Self to take into consideration of the cost to the additional taxing entities, such as public school districts and municipalities if the county doesn't receive additional district courts.

The court opted to wait until its Nov. 18 meeting to hear from 416th District Judge Chris Oldner about his opinion on if additional district courts are needed. Oldner could not attend the meeting because he was spending time at home with his wife and family, and their newborn daughter.

The court will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 at the former Collin County Courthouse at 210 S. McDonald St. in McKinney, one week prior to when the court is regularly slated to meet. The second monthly meeting was changed due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

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