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District Judge Polcher asks court to hire contract attorneys to fix returned judgments
Summary
Brazoria County district judges asked the commissioners court to hire two contract attorneys to review district-court judgments after clerical errors have caused rejections; staff estimated roughly $20,400 through the end of fiscal 2026 and the court authorized the spending from the general fund.
District Judge Polcher told the court that clerical errors are causing judgments to be returned by the Texas Department of Corrections and that outside counsel should review paperwork before it is finalized.
"Somewhere along the process, affirmative findings aren't included in those judgments," Judge Polcher said, citing omissions such as family-violence and deadly-weapon findings that trigger returns. She said two contract attorneys working roughly four hours each (about eight hours a week) could review newly prepared judgments to reduce rework and public-safety risk.
County staff told the court the cost through the end of fiscal 2026 is "about $20,400," and that the county's general fund contains excess revenues that could cover the work. Earlier in discussion Judge Polcher and others noted a longer-term estimate of $1,600 per week ($80,000 annually) if the review continued at that pace.
The court authorized engaging two private-sector attorneys on contract and approved using general-fund revenues through the end of fiscal 2026 to fund the effort. The motion carried without recorded dissents.
The action covers district-court judgments only; county-court procedures for pleas and probation paperwork were discussed separately and may not require the same review process. Staff will proceed with contract details and report back on implementation and costs.
