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Court considers auxiliary courtroom, weekend or night sessions to expand docket capacity
Summary
Participants discussed using auxiliary courtrooms, scheduling changes such as Saturday or night court, and staff overtime/security constraints as options to increase capacity without adding full-time clerks. Security and overtime costs were cited as practical limits.
Commissioners and judges discussed using available auxiliary courtrooms and alternate schedules—Friday, Saturday or night court—to increase hearing capacity without immediately adding full-time clerks. A presenter said the auxiliary courtroom has been used successfully for jury trials and can be scheduled when available.
Several participants said security staffing and overtime costs limit the practical use of Saturday or night sessions; one judge noted that while other counties run Saturday or evening courts, Rockwall County lacks the security capacity to expand hours without additional cost. The group agreed to prioritize in-county scheduling options and to consider overtime implications before pursuing expanded hours as a remedy for backlogs.
No changes to the schedule were adopted; staff will supply availability and cost estimates if commissioners wish to explore extended hours further.
