Court Docket

Tarrant County residents, litigants, attorneys, journalists, and jurors depend on reliable court schedules to plan appearances, track case progress, and verify settings. This guide explains how the Tarrant County TX court docket works across criminal and civil courts, shows you where to find official docket information online, and offers practical tips for using that information to meet deadlines, prepare filings, and appear at the right place and time.

Understand the Foundations: What “Court Docket” Means in Tarrant County

A court docket is the official calendar of hearings, trials, and other settings scheduled before a specific court. In Tarrant County, dockets are created and maintained by different offices depending on the case type and court:

Criminal dockets are published through the District Clerk’s online system and list settings for County Criminal Courts and Criminal District Courts.

Civil district dockets are posted by each court’s coordinator; they are updated individually and can change frequently based on motions, settlements, or court directives.

Justice of the Peace (JP), Probate, and County Courts at Law records are available through the county’s public access portal; calendars and settings are similarly subject to change.

Because each court can update its schedule daily—and sometimes hourly—this article emphasizes how to verify the correct date, time, courtroom, and appearance method before you go.

Navigate Criminal Case Calendars: Use the Criminal Docket Search

Access the official criminal docket index

Tarrant County’s criminal settings are searchable online by name, date range, and court. Use the official Criminal Docket Search to view docket settings and filter by court or date range (the page displays “Criminal Court Docket” and a timestamp of the last generation to help you gauge freshness). The search interface supports:

Last name / first name (person-based lookups)
CID# (County Identifier, when available)
Court selection (choose a specific court or review multiple courts)
From / Until dates (to narrow to a day or span of days)

Open the official Criminal Docket Search from the District Clerk’s system and review the results for your court name, setting date, and time. The list of selectable courts includes County Criminal Courts Nos. 1–10 and Criminal District Courts Nos. 1–4. Specialized rooms—such as Auxiliary Trial Rooms and Voir Dire Courtroom—may appear when they are being used for specific dockets.

Criminal Docket Search

Read criminal docket results like a pro

When your search returns results, pay close attention to:

Defendant name and cause number: Confirm you have the right case, especially when parties share common names.

Court name and location: Criminal District Courts convene at designated criminal courtrooms; make sure you note the correct building and floor.

Setting type: Pretrial, announcement, plea, hearing, or trial—each setting has different preparation requirements.

Date and time: Docket calls often begin promptly; plan to arrive early to clear security and locate your courtroom.

Optimize searches by court and date

If you are tracking a single defendant, search by name. If you are monitoring a group of cases or a particular courtroom, select the court and set From and Until to your preferred date or range. This approach is helpful for investigators, bondsmen, or reporters following a calendar day.

Note on last-minute changes

Criminal dockets may adjust day-of based on pleas, attorney availability, or judicial directives. Re-run your search on the morning of your hearing and again before leaving for court, then verify in person with the court staff when you arrive.

Master Civil District Court Calendars: Find Each Court’s Current Docket

Start with the county’s civil district docket hub

Tarrant County centralizes links to each Civil District Court’s dockets on one official county page. This hub clarifies an important point: civil dockets are updated by individual court coordinators, not by the District Clerk, so you should always open the specific court’s docket to see the latest version.

Civil District Courts Dockets

Go directly to an individual court’s docket

For day-to-day planning, it’s best to bookmark the exact court’s docket page. Here are examples of official, court-specific docket links you can use when your case is assigned to that bench:

View the 17th District Court’s posted settings on its dedicated page: 17th District Court Dockets

Check the 48th District Court’s calendar for trial and hearing lists: 48th District Court Dockets

Follow the 67th District Court’s hearing and trial schedules: 67th District Court Dockets

Confirm upcoming settings in the 352nd District Court: 352nd District Court Dockets

Interpret civil dockets accurately

Each civil district court posts its docket in its own format (e.g., “Hearing Docket,” “Trial Docket—CURRENT,” “Trial Docket—NEXT”). When you open a docket:

Confirm the effective date on the posted list; if you see both “CURRENT” and “NEXT,” prioritize the “CURRENT” for imminent appearances.

Match your case style and cause number to avoid confusion with similarly named parties.

Identify time blocks: Many courts group motion dockets at specific hours; note any instructions about the order of call.

Check special instructions: Some courts include notes on remote hearing procedures, juror instructions, or courtroom technology on adjacent pages; when present, review them carefully so you bring the right equipment or connect to the right conferencing link if authorized by the court.

Why coordinators’ updates matter

Because each civil court posts and revises its own docket, your most accurate view is the court’s own page on the county website. If you don’t see your case where you expect, contact the court coordinator listed on that court’s page or re-check closer to your setting date. Always bring a copy of the latest posted docket to your appearance.

Use the County’s Public Records Portal for JP, Probate, and Additional Calendars

Some Tarrant County records—including Justice of the Peace, Probate, and County Courts at Law—are accessible through the official public access portal. While the portal focuses on records, it also helps you confirm cause numbers and related settings where available. This is useful when you need to verify which courtroom holds your matter or to cross-check filed documents and scheduled events.

Justice of the Peace Records

Practical portal tips

Search by party name or case number to anchor your query, then review the case summary for scheduling details.

Confirm the assigned precinct when dealing with JP matters, because precincts maintain separate calendars and locations.

Use the record to check service or notice: When timing is tight, seeing the latest filing can help you anticipate whether a setting will go forward or be reset.

Plan for Jury Obligations Connected to Dockets

If you are a juror summoned for a specific court and date, your jury reporting obligations run in tandem with that court’s docket. Tarrant County maintains an official hub that explains reporting instructions, rescheduling options (where permitted), and the eResponse system for managing your appearance.

Jury Services

Before you go

Verify your reporting time the evening before, especially during severe weather or emergencies.

Bring your summons and ID, and allow extra time for security and parking.

Review any court-specific juror instructions found on the individual court pages linked from the civil docket hub when your case is assigned to a particular bench.

Ensure Access: Request ADA Accommodation in Advance

Court calendars move quickly, and last-minute requests for accommodation may be difficult to fulfill day-of. If you or a witness requires accessibility assistance, submit your request as early as possible using the county’s official channel.

Request ADA Accommodation

What to include in your request

Your case name and cause number

Court name and scheduled date/time

Specific accommodation needed (e.g., assistive listening device, interpreter, mobility access)

Your contact information for confirmation or follow-up

Early coordination helps the court integrate your needs into the docket without delaying the call.

Know Your Rights to Information: Public Information Act Requests

If you need county records beyond what the docket postings provide—such as archived dockets, historical schedules, or underlying records that are not available through public portals—you can use Texas’s Public Information Act process. Tarrant County’s official page explains how to submit a request and what to expect.

Public Information Act

When a public information request makes sense

Historic docket verification for appellate purposes or research
Clarifying agency-held records related to notice or service
Obtaining certified copies when the ordinary public portals do not offer them

Always specify the court, date range, and type of record to expedite processing.

Step-by-Step: How to Confirm a Tarrant County Court Date End-to-End

1) Identify your case type and court

If your matter is criminal (misdemeanor or felony), begin with the Criminal Docket Search.

If your matter is civil in a district court, start at the civil district docket hub and click the specific court’s docket page.

If your matter is in a JP, Probate, or County Court at Law, use the Public Access portal to anchor your case number and confirm settings.

2) Search by the most precise information you have

Cause number is best; full party name is next; date range helps when you only know “sometime next week.”

In the criminal index, also select the exact court if you know it; this cuts noise and surfaces your setting quickly.

3) Verify date, time, courtroom, and appearance method

Cross-check the date/time on the docket with your notice of setting.

Note the courtroom and building/floor (Tarrant County’s civil district courts are commonly in the Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, 100 N. Calhoun St., Fort Worth).

Some courts publish remote hearing procedures on their pages; only rely on remote appearance if the court explicitly authorizes it for your setting.

4) Re-check on the morning of your setting

Dockets can shift. Refresh the docket page and/or run the criminal index again the morning of your hearing to catch any late resets.

5) Arrive early and confirm in person

Build in time for parking, security, and navigation to your floor.

Confirm your matter with the bailiff or court coordinator—especially if your case does not appear where you expect on the printed docket.

Readiness Checklist for Litigants and Counsel

For criminal settings

Plea negotiations: If a plea is likely, ensure forms are ready and confirm with the prosecutor beforehand.

Discovery and motions: Bring proof of compliance and copies for the court.

Interpreter needs: Coordinate through the court before the setting for timely assignment.

For civil hearings

Submission vs. oral hearing: Some motions are decided on submission; others require appearance. Read the court’s docket heading carefully.

Exhibit notebooks and courtesy copies: Follow each court’s preferences; some benches post court rules and procedures alongside their dockets.

Technology checks: If you need to present electronically, confirm the courtroom’s setup on the court’s page and bring backups.

For jurors

Attendance confirmation: Check your Jury Services instructions the evening prior.

Hardship or postponement: Use the county’s official guidance; do not skip your report time unless officially excused.

Troubleshooting Common Docket Questions

“My case doesn’t appear on today’s docket—what should I do?”

Re-run your search, confirm spelling and cause number, and verify you are on the right court’s page.

If your notice of setting is for a civil district court, click that court’s specific docket link rather than relying only on the hub.

Arrive at court with your written notice, then check with the coordinator or bailiff; sometimes cases are passed, reset, or placed on a supplemental list.

“The posted docket shows a different time than my notice.”

Use the most recent posted docket for planning, but bring your notice and check in with court staff. Courts sometimes stagger times to manage traffic and will direct you on arrival.

“I need to request a continuance—where do I look?”

Each civil district court provides its own rules and procedures (often linked from its docket page). Criminal continuances follow the Criminal District Court’s practices and may require agreement or a hearing. File motions early and verify whether the court requires a proposed order or a specific form of certificate of conference.

“How do I find the courtroom location?”

Many docket pages identify their building and floor. If your page does not, look for the court’s contact/locations information or use the county’s locations directory posted on the official site. When in doubt, the County Telephone Operator can route you.

Keep It Current: Why You Should Revisit the Official Pages

Court calendars are dynamic. Tarrant County expressly notes that while every effort is made to publish accurate information, official records control when legal reliance is necessary. For that reason, always return to the official county pages—and the specific court’s docket—close to your setting date. If you require records beyond the posted calendar, use the county’s Public Information Act process to request them formally.

Court Docket–Related Offices and Contacts (Addresses and Phones)

Tarrant County (County Telephone Operator) — 100 E. Weatherford, Fort Worth, TX 76196 — 817-884-1111

17th District Court — Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, 3rd Floor, 100 N. Calhoun St., Fort Worth, TX 76196 — 817-884-1460

48th District Court — Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, 4th Floor, 100 N. Calhoun St., Fort Worth, TX 76196 — 817-884-2690

342nd District Court — Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building, 5th Floor, 100 N. Calhoun St., Fort Worth, TX 76196 — 817-884-2710

Tarrant County Court Docket FAQs

How can I verify today’s criminal settings and their freshness?

Use the official Criminal Docket Search to look up settings by party name, court, and date range; the page displays “Criminal Court Docket” with a generated timestamp so you can confirm how current the list is before you go. Refine by choosing your specific County Criminal Court or Criminal District Court and narrowing the “From”/“Until” dates to the exact day you need. Recheck the page the morning of your setting to catch any late changes. (See: Criminal Docket Search)

Where do I find civil district court hearing and trial lists?

Civil district calendars are posted on each court’s page and updated by the court’s coordinator, not the District Clerk. Start at the county’s consolidated hub, then open your assigned court’s “Hearing Docket,” “Trial Docket – CURRENT,” or “Trial Docket – NEXT” to confirm the exact date and time for your matter. Always rely on the most recent posting for planning. (See: Civil District Courts Dockets)

How do I confirm County Courts at Law or Justice of the Peace case information tied to calendars?

For County Courts at Law, use the public portal to review case records and associated scheduling details when available; searching by cause number or party name helps anchor your query before checking any posted calendars. (See: County Courts at Law Records)
For Justice of the Peace matters, the same portal supports JP records across precincts, which is useful for verifying settings and ensuring you’re checking the correct precinct. (See: Justice of the Peace Records)