Travis County court approves expansion of counsel-at-first-appearance staffing, advocates press for 24/7 coverage

Travis County Commissioners Court on Jan. 28 unanimously approved a plan to create and post 43 new county full‑time positions to staff an “A” shift for the county’s Counsel at First Appearance program (CAFA), expanding coverage as officials move toward 16 hours a day of magistration coverage across two shifts.

The court’s vote followed a presentation from Travis Gatlin, the county’s budget director, and Gabby Douthat, the CAFA project lead, who said the county previously authorized 43 positions for the B shift and transferred $5.8 million earlier in FY25. PBO recommended the additional 43 A‑shift positions with a target start date of Feb. 15 and an expected ongoing annual cost of roughly $6.9 million, with one‑time hiring costs to be covered from vacancy savings.

Why it matters: CAFA places defense counsel at the earliest magistrate appearance, a step county officials and advocates say reduces unnecessary detention and protects constitutional rights. Advocates at the meeting told commissioners the lack of consistent around‑the‑clock counsel leaves vulnerable people exposed to immigration enforcement and other harms.

What the court approved: The motion, made by Commissioner Gomez and seconded by Commissioner Shea, authorized creation and posting of the 43 A‑shift county positions, allowed the budget office flexibility to use vacancy savings to cover one‑time costs, and reserved additional funds for possible sheriff’s office positions that may be authorized later. The motion passed unanimously.

Staff and operational details: Gatlin described a staged ramp-up: begin one A‑shift day in March, add days monthly, and reach full A‑shift coverage by July 1 so the county can magistrate people during expanded hours. Departments reported most B‑shift positions have been filled; notable outstanding hiring challenges include recruiting court‑certified interpreters. Gabby Douthat told the court that interpreter recruitment remains “an ongoing issue” and that the county is exploring contracting or alternative schedules where certified interpreters are not yet available.

Advocates’ and practitioners’ concerns: Dozens of in‑person and phone commenters urged immediate 24/7 implementation. Peggy Morton told the court she had seen community members detained for months without counsel, and Summer Alexander, calling from the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance, said the lack of timely counsel “is unconstitutional” and urged immediate expansion. Public defender attorneys at the meeting said CAFA markedly changes outcomes and urged the court to move “as fast as humanly possible.”

County caveats and follow-up: PBO and elected officials flagged operational unknowns — including whether some defense work will require longer shifts (the county is testing 8‑hour versus 10‑hour models), how to staff nights and weekends sustainably, and the possibility of temporary magistrates or additional clerk coverage for a future C shift. Officials said they will monitor progress, return to court if more resources are needed, and provide quarterly updates from the CAFA working group.

What happens next: The county will post the newly authorized A‑shift positions (targeting Feb. 15 start dates where possible) and proceed with hiring and contract amendments for non‑county defense providers. Commissioners reserved funding for additional sheriff’s office positions pending vacancy improvements and said they will review outcomes and staffing metrics in coming months.

Key quote: “We took a big step during the budget process to get to this point,” Commissioner Gomez said as the court voted; advocates said the step did not eliminate the urgency for full 24/7 coverage.

The court’s action was procedural and budgetary — it created the positions and authorized hiring; the implementation timeline will be driven by recruitment and any further adjustments the working group recommends.