Frequently Asked Questions

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# Questions Answers
1 Where is the court located? 297th District Court is located on the 5th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center on the south side of the building. The Justice Center is at 401 W. Belknap, Fort Worth, Texas.
2 What cases are handled by 297th?

Adult felony cases that have allegedly occurred in Tarrant County, Texas, are under the jurisdiction of 297th.

There are nine other district courts with the same jurisdiction.
3 What steps are taken before a case goes to trial? See Differentiated Felony Case Management for the court events before a case goes to trial.
4 How long does a trial take? Most felony trials last from three to five days.
5 What is probation? Probation is when a defendant's sentence is suspended and the defendant is supervised by probation officers working under the direction of the judge. The Probation Department is now called the Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD).
6 How do I find out the date and time of my court appearance? Dockets for the next two weeks are posted on the web page. Contact your attorney or bondsman for the date and time of your court appearance. Contact Nona McDonald, court coordinator, at 817-884-1256 for information on other dockets.
7
 My case is set on the docket. Do my attorney and I have to be there? Yes. When your case is set on the docket, both you and your attorney must be present in the court room on time.
8 My attorney is hired and we are set on the initial appearance docket. Are we excused? Some attorneys and defendants need to report to the Initial Appearance Setting. Contact Ashley Mejorado at 817-884-1251 or Tiffany Niemela at 817-884-1979 for more information.
9 Where do I pay my court costs/attorney's fees? You may pay your court costs/attorney's fees at the Tarrant County District Clerk's Office Criminal Section, which is located on the third floor in the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center. The Justice Center is at 401 W. Belknap, Fort Worth.
10 How can I get a copy of a reporter's record/transcript of a hearing or trial? How much does it cost? Pursuant to the rules regarding the preparation of the reporter's record, the request must be in writing to the court reporter designating the specific portion or portions to be included in the record.  Mail written requests to 297th District Court, Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, Attention: Valerie Allen, 401 W. Belknap, Fort Worth, TX 76196-0229. The cost of the reporter's record varies.
11 How can I get copies of a judgment, sentence, or dismissal? Contact the District Clerk at 817-884-2515.
12 Who do I contact to find the outcome of a trial/plea? Contact either the Court Coordinator at 817-884-1256 or the District Clerk at 817-884-2515.
13 Can I contact the judge directly?
 No, you may not contact the judge directly. All inquiries concerning motions and other court business should be directed to the court coordinator. Judges are prohibited from communicating about cases with the litigants or their attorneys unless both sides are present. Judge Hagerman will not accept phone calls from litigants. E-mails to the judge will not be read or acknowledged unless requested by and expected by the judge.