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Cedar Hill municipal court details walk‑in dockets, youth diversion and warrant‑resolution outreach
Summary
Municipal Court Administrator Bobby Spence told the City Council that the court has added twice‑monthly "safe harbor" walk‑in dockets, implemented a local youth diversion plan required by state law, increased juror pay to $20 and expanded warrant‑resolution efforts that include mailed notices, electronic signage and text blasts. Spence credited the
Bobby Spence, municipal court administrator, told the City of Cedar Hill Council on Oct. 28, 2025, that the municipal court has added twice‑monthly "safe harbor" walk‑in dockets, expanded juror pay and launched a youth diversion plan to improve case resolution and community outcomes.
Spence said the safe harbor walk‑in dockets, initiated by Presiding Judge Dr. Greg Andrew Shallon, run twice a month (24 times a year) and let people who have warrants or citations meet the judge and work out a resolution without immediate arrest. "If they can't pay in full, they don't have to be afraid of going to jail," Spence said, describing the goal of reducing arrests through voluntary resolution.
The court also moved to regularly scheduled trial dockets to reduce delays. Spence said the court's change to a court of record cut the number of appeals that previously…
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