Nueces County accepts OCA ARPA grant to fund auxiliary court and authorizes four positions

Nueces County Commissioners Court approved July 29 an Office of Court Administration (OCA) ARPA grant and the hiring of four grant‑funded positions to create an auxiliary court to help address case backlog.

County and judicial staff said the grant is roughly $900,000 and will fund a visiting judge assigned by the 5th region, a felony‑level prosecutor (felony 6), a certified bailiff, an assistant court clerk and an administrative assistant. The visiting judge’s compensation will be handled through the 5th Region’s budget; the county will pay the four positions using the grant funds. County staff said the visiting judge will be assigned for a six‑month period to maintain continuity.

Judicial staff told commissioners the visiting judge is expected to begin on Oct. 1 with trial activity beginning shortly afterward; the goal is to clear backlogged felony dockets and speed case resolution. Commissioners asked about build‑out and logistics for locating the auxiliary court (staff mentioned the fifth floor as a candidate) and county staff said those items would be handled in follow‑up planning and possible facilities work.

The court voted to accept the grant and authorize the positions; staff were asked to proceed with posting and hiring in coordination with the district clerk and the auxiliary court committee (the judge noted local administrative judges would select or assign the visitor through regional channels).

Ending: Staff will coordinate district‑clerk hiring, facility planning and the auxiliary court committee’s operations. The grant is time‑limited; the court directed staff to proceed with recruitment and operational planning to meet an October start date for the visiting judge and early October trial scheduling.