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Municipal Courts

Request Accommodations

To request an accommodation due to a disability please call 713.247.5464 or email presidingjudge@houstontx.gov.

CITY OF HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURT POLICY:

It is the policy of this Court to ensure that communications with individuals with disabilities in our programs, services, and activities are as effective as communications with individuals without disabilities, consistent with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12131 -12134, and regulations implementing Title II, 28 C.F.R. pt. 35 (and for government entities receiving federal funding, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and the implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. Part 42, Subpart G.

To meet this obligation, the Court will provide, free of charge, appropriate auxiliary aids and services, whenever necessary, to ensure that individuals with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, the Court's programs, services, and activities, 28 C.F.R. §§ 35.130(f) and 35.160(b)(1). This policy applies to all members of the public who seek to participate in the Court's programs, services, and activities, including parties to legal proceedings and their companions, witnesses, jurors, and spectators.

Whenever possible, requests for auxiliary aids and services should be directed to Court’s ADA Coordinator, Lilly Warden, 1400 Lubbock, Room 214, (713) 247-8749, (713) 247-5464, Lilly.Warden@houstontx.gov. Requests can be made by an individual with a disability who needs the auxiliary aids or services or by someone acting on that individual's behalf.

Requests can be made either in writing or orally. Requests should be made in advance, whenever possible, in order to better enable the Court to address the communication needs of the individual. However, all requests for auxiliary aids and services will be addressed promptly and in accordance with ADA requirements.

View the Municipal Court Department ADA Policy (.pdf)

REQUESTING AN ACCOMODATION:

  • Calling the City’s 3-1-1 Help Line: Dial 3-1-1 within the City of Houston limits or (713) 837-0311 (outside the City of Houston limits). You will need to provide specific Information to the 3-1-1 Operator including the specific type of accommodation, the defendant’s name, case number, type of court setting, and the date that the accommodation is needed.
  • Via e-mail to the Office of the Presiding Judge: Send your request to presidingjudge@houstontx.gov. You will need to provide specific information in your email including the specific type of accommodation, the defendant’s name, case number, type of court setting, and the date that the accommodation is needed.

If you are hearing impaired and require assistance in communicating with the City of Houston Municipal Courts, please utilize the State of Texas Relay Service. Please note the contact information below regarding the Texas Relay Service.

TEXAS RELAY SERVICE
The Texas Relay service is free of charge and the operator functions as an interpreter during your phone conversation. Everything you say will be voiced/typed to the caller and everything the caller says will be typed/voiced to you.

FOR HEARING CALLERS

  1. Voice to TTY/VCO/HCO/STS: 7-1-1 or 1-800-735-2988
  2. Voice to CapTel: 1-877-243-2823
  3. Spanish-to-Spanish: 7-1-1 or 1-800-662-4954
  4. Spanish-to-English: 7-1-1 or 1-888-777-5861

FOR DEAF CALLERS

  1. TTY to Voice: 7-1-1 or 1-800-735-2989
  2. ASCII to Voice: 7-1-1 or 1-800-735-2991
  3. Spanish-to-Spanish: 7-1-1 or 1-800-662-4954
  4. Spanish-to-English: 7-1-1 or 1-888-777-5861