Cameron County District Court Case Search

While counties in other states typically have a Superior Court as their main trial court, the Constitution of the State of Texas establishes the District Courts instead. As a result, Cameron County does not have a Superior Court; instead, it has District Courts.

The District Court records include all pleadings, motions, orders, transcripts, and other papers, including exhibits emanating from cases filed with the District Clerk and assigned to a specific district court. Once final judgment is given in any case, the District Clerk retains the original documents, indexes them in the record system, and preserves them for future reference.

Except restricted, these documents are typically made available to members of the public who may wish to review them for various reasons, including performing a background check on an employee or verifying a legal claim.

What Kinds of cases have been heard in Cameron District Court?

The district courts have jurisdiction over a wide range of legal disputes. These include felony and misdemeanor criminal cases and election contests, title to land, foreclosure of mortgages, contract disagreements, probate and wills, and juvenile and family law civil cases. Generally, these courts adjudicate cases that are not within the jurisdiction of other courts.

Cameron County District Court

The District Courts are trial courts, meaning they are general jurisdiction courts serving as the forum for settling most criminal and civil disputes. The Courts have original jurisdiction over civil cases in which the amount in controversy is $200 or more. While these courts are not county-specific, each county must be served by at least one court. In more populous counties, multiple district courts may operate to handle high caseloads.

Cameron County is served by 8 district courts, with each of these courts having one judge per court. In Catherine County, the District Courts are located in these areas:

Cameron County Courthouse
974 E. Harrison St.
Judicial Building Third Floor
Brownsville, Texas 78520
Phone: (956) 544-0844

Cameron County 107th District Court
Cameron County Courthouse - Judicial Building
974 E Harrison St, 3rd Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520
Phone: (956) 544-0845

Cameron County 138th District Court
Cameron County Courthouse - Judicial Building
974 E Harrison St, 3rd Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520
Phone: (956) 544-0877

Cameron County 197th District Court
Cameron County Courthouse - Judicial Building
974 E Harrison St, 3rd Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520
Phone: (956) 574-8150

Cameron County 357th District Court
Cameron County Courthouse - Judicial Building
974 E Harrison St, 1st Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520
Phone: (956) 548-9522

Cameron County 404th District Court
Cameron County Courthouse - Judicial Building
974 E Harrison St, 3rd Floor, Brownsville, TX 78520
Phone: (956) 544-0837

Cameron County Case Lookup

The District Clerk of Cameron County is responsible for maintaining all District Court records in Cameron County and managing public access to these records. Civil and criminal court records can be accessed via the District Clerk of Court website. To do this:

• Visit the website
• Click on "Government" at the top of the page
• Click on "Case Search".
• Opt for the Public Portal option
• Click the "Smart Search Icon"
• Enter the record number or a party name in the Last, First, and Middle Suffix Format.
• Click on submit to facilitate a database query.

To purchase copies,

• Return to the District Clerk page and click on "purchase copies.
• Select the open records link, agree to the terms, and proceed.
• Choose one of the following options:
  • Submit an Open Records Request
  • Pay for an Approved Open Records Request.
• If submitting an Open Records Request, users must complete the online request form with the following:
  • The name, address, email, and phone number of the plaintiff/petitioner
  • Unique case details —Plaintiff/Defendant name.
  • Defendant’s date of birth for criminal cases (for criminal cases).
  • Document type (Certified Copies/Plain Copies) and delivery (via Mail/ Email).
• Click submit to receive a unique request number (along with the estimated cost) via email.
• Return to the portal with the request number and credit card information to click on Pay for an Approved Open Records Request.
• Request processing takes 3 to 5 days after payment.

Keep in mind that the online channel is merely supplementary to the in-person administrative process. Individuals can access court records in person by submitting a copy request form over the counter at the clerk's office.

The District Clerk's office is located at:

Cameron County, TX
974 E. Harrison Street
Third Floor
Brownsville, TX 78520

Cameron District Court Case Search by Name

When seeking court records, researchers must provide unique details that sufficiently identify the case record they are searching for. These typically include the case number and a party’s name, along with other relevant details like the case type and filing date. If searching on the internet—the Advanced Search feature can further refine search results by allowing users to input details such as Attorney Bar Number, Date of Birth, Nickname, Case Cross-reference Number, and more. It is crucial to provide the correct information to ensure a successful search and retrieve the correct case record.

Cameron District Court Docket Search

Court docket is an official record that tracks the timeline of a case from the moment it is filed until it is resolved. It provides important details, including:

• Case number and parties involved
• Upcoming court hearings and trial dates
• Motions filed by attorneys
• Court orders, rulings, and judgments

By reviewing a court docket, individuals can follow the progress of a case and stay informed about important deadlines or legal developments.

The District Court docket is accessible via the District Clerk of Court website. To access the docket:

• Visit the website and click "Justice". Navigate to and click "iDocket".

Lookup Cameron County District Court Online

District Court records are primarily accessible online via the Cameron County Public Portal. However, they can also be accessed via third-party websites like Texascourtrecords.us. While these websites are typically user-friendly and straightforward, they do not guarantee that the information provided is accurate and complete. Users are advised to be cautious and compare information received with data received from other official sources to ascertain the record is fit for purpose.

Supreme Court vs. District Court

As trial Courts, the District Courts are the courts of first instance in most civil and criminal cases. In criminal cases, verdicts are typically rendered by a jury, while a judge presides over civil cases. Unlike the Supreme Court, which operates at the state level, district courts operate at the county level, though a county multiple district court may convey one county. Cameron County has eight judicial districts. However, the decisions of these courts in any matter are not final. Dissatisfied litigants have the constitutional right to appeal the decision of a branch of these courts at the Texas Court of Appeals.

In contrast, the Supreme Court is the highest court and court of last resort in the State of Texas. This means its decision is final in all matters. Unlike the District Court, the Supreme Court is a state-level court; there is only one of its kind in the state of Texas. The Court has original jurisdiction to answer questions of state law certified by a federal appellate judge.