187th District Court resets multiple cases; judge instructs staff to prepare transcripts

Judge Stephanie Boyd reset dates for several criminal cases in the 187th District Court to avoid holding multiple jury trials at the same time and to allow attorneys to obtain transcripts of ongoing trials when needed.

The court told defendants that an initial date may be set for motions or pretrial review followed by the actual jury-selection date. For example, the judge offered May 19 as a motions day and advised that jury selection could fall on a later date; at defendants' requests the court later placed multiple dockets on June 16 or May 29 depending on counsel's needs. "Once you sign the reset form, you're excused, and we'll let your attorney know," Judge Boyd said while instructing staff to notify counsel.

The calendar moves included Jamar Clark, who asked for a later date because of a family graduation and was scheduled for June 16, and Anthony Cochran, whose matter was placed on May 29 as a status/pretrial so counsel can decide whether to request transcripts from the trial already in progress. The court repeatedly noted it could not conduct two jury trials at once and that some dates were being set only to allow time for counsel to obtain transcripts or file motions.

Court staff were directed to provide reset forms and to mark items as status or pretrial where appropriate. The judge also instructed deputies to seat defendants at the defense table when necessary so counsel and defendants could review the state's file in the courtroom.