Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)

02/16/2026

HCCLA Judicial Bar Poll results are in! Learn how the lawyers who actually practice in Harris County's criminal courts rate the judges.

02/12/2026

Local defense leaders say a practical workaround has taken hold: photocopy any document before giving it to a client and discard the original.

Attorney says he unknowingly handed K2‑laced paper to a client; investigators trace a wider smuggling probe.

02/11/2026

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association is warning its members after another lawyer was tricked into smuggling drug-laced paper into the Harris County Jail. "This is becoming a prevalent thing," Brent Mayr, president of the association, said.

The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association is warning its members after another lawyer was tricked into smuggling drug-laced paper into the Harris County Jail.

02/11/2026

FREE CLE! Register today (3 hours incl. 0.5 ethics):
https://hccla.org/calendar/ #!event/2026/1/21/specialty-courts-seminar Open to all criminal defense lawyers and prosecutors practicing in Harris County.

Learn how Harris County’s Specialty Court programs can help those who have been cycling in and out of the criminal justice system for years. Specialty Courts aim to address the underlying cause of repeat criminal behavior.

Learn more about these programs, as well as services offered by Justice Forward, a nonprofit that provides extra support and benefits to the clients and graduates of these programs.

02/09/2026

Funeral services for Earl Musick:

Visitation and Celebration of Life services
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Evening (times being coordinated)
Forest Park-The Woodlands

Funeral Service
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Morning (times being coordinated)
Forest Park-The Woodlands
with procession to Forest Park-Lawndale

(Photo courtesy of Bob Rosenberg: Earl Musick with daughter JoAnne and granddaughter Jessica at HCCLA Banquet)

02/02/2026

HCCLA MEMBERS: VOTE NOW in the 2026 Judicial Bar Poll!

This poll is for HCCLA Members Only: login required. All responses will remain anonymous and confidential.

It only takes a few minutes and helps our organization inform the public on our judiciary. Thank you for your input!

01/27/2026

In response to mounting concerns regarding federal enforcement interactions and the necessity of rigorous oversight, NACDL President Andrew Birrell and Executive Director Lisa Wayne issued the following statement:

NACDL President Andrew Birrell of Minneapolis stated: "The Bill of Rights is not a suggestion; it is the bedrock of our Republic. As defense counsel, we serve as the sentinels of the Sixth Amendment, ensuring that the shield of due process remains strong. When federal agents target individuals based on perceived resistance rather than objective evidence of wrongdoing, the Rule of Law suffers.

“We are calling for a fundamental recalibration of ICE recruitment and conduct. Currently, the actions of these agents—such as firing at moving vehicles or gunning down individuals recording their activities—fall far short of the constitutional standards expected of any entity granted the power of the state. We must move away from the peril of profiling and toward a framework that prizes constitutional rights, respect for the dignity of every individual, and de-escalation over bullying and deadly dominance."

NACDL Executive Director Lisa Wayne of Washington, DC added: "Constitutional rights and the safety of the public are inextricably linked. The federal government currently operates an enforcement apparatus that frequently escalates encounters through automatic, biased, and unreasonable use of force."

Read more: https://www.nacdl.org/newsrelease/News-Release-~-ICE-Officer-Conduct

01/27/2026

: The Harris County District Courts will resume full operations on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. All seated jurors should report in-person to their assigned courts. Contact your specific court if you require weather-related accommodations.

01/27/2026

: Harris County Criminal and Civil Courts at Law will resume normal operations on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. This includes:
👉Criminal misdemeanor cases set on the dockets for each of the 16 Harris County Criminal Courts at Law.
👉Civil cases set on the dockets for each of the five Harris County Civil Courts at Law, as well as the docket run by Associate Judge Sonia Lopez.

If you are scheduled to appear in court and you are still experiencing inclement weather and dangerous road conditions in your area, please exercise caution. Contact the court to which your case is assigned with any questions or concerns – or to find out if the court offers a Zoom option.

If your court date was rescheduled due to inclement weather, you can find your new date by contacting your attorney or the court in which your case is assigned, or by monitoring the appropriate website:
👉Criminal cases: www.hcdistrictclerk.com/edocs/public/search.aspx
👉Civil cases: www.cclerk.hctx.net/applications/websearch/Home.aspx

Should anything change, updates will be posted on social media and our website: www.ccl.hctx.net.

Want to be notified directly about court closures? Sign up for Harris County Courts emergency closure email and text alerts: https://bit.ly/HarrisCoCourtClosures.

01/17/2026

The Harris County District Courts will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

01/17/2026

: Harris County Courts at Law will be closed this Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.