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Laredo Texas Criminal Lawyers


WEBB COUNTY CRIMINAL LAWYERS
Attorneys James Sullivan and Associates, 
Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys

The Laredo, Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys Sullivan and Associates have handled over 4000 cases and have a collective 55 years experience defending adults and  juveniles in criminal, juvenile, and family courts  in Webb County and throughout the State of Texas.

Laredo Criminal Defense Lawyers James Sullivan & Associates represent clients charged with crimes in State and Federal courts in Houston, Galveston,  LAREDO, Texas, Beaumont, San Antonio, Waco, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Tyler, Sherman, Del Rio, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, El Paso and all counties in Texas. The law firm of Sullivan & Associates is located in northwest Houston; however, Attorneys James  Sullivan and Associates appear in all criminal, juvenile, and family courts in Texas.

Webb County Criminal Defense Attorneys James Sullivan and Associates have over 55 years collective experience representing persons accused of committing criminal violations of State and Federal law. Together, Sullivan and Associates have been the attorneys of record in over 4000 cases and are anticipating their 1000th case dismissal.

Laredo Criminal Attorneys James Sullivan and Associates treat every person they represent as if they were a friend and neighbor. When you call, likely Jim Sullivan or an associate will answer your call themselves. You will be dealing with Attorneys, not secretaries, assistants, or answering machines.

If we can be of any assistance, or you just want to talk about your situation, please call Webb County Criminal Defense Attorneys James Sullivan and Associates at 281-546-6428.
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Webb County was created on January 28th, 1848 by the Texas legislature and is the 6th largest county in the state of Texas with 3,307 square miles. The County Courthouse was designed by the renowned Texas Architect, Alfred GILES. The building was constructed in 1909 at a cost of $40,000. Renovated in 1997 to its original structure, the court house is currently occupied and has been recognized by the Texas Historical Commission as one of the finest examples of “courthouse restoration in the State of Texas.”
The Office of the Webb County Public Defender was created in Webb County in 1988 to ensure legal representation to indigent defendants charged with adult misdemeanor and felony crimes. In accordance with the Fair Defense Act as required by Senate Bill 7, its is their duty to provide zealous representation to all clients appointed to our Office. Since its inception, the Office of the Webb County Public Defender has represented thousand of clients. The Office is comprised of fifteen attorneys, seven secretaries, two investigators, an executive administrative assistant, and a receptionist. The Public Defender's Office is responsible for representing adult defendants in both the district and county court-at-law. They deal with more than 125 felony and misdemeanor cases each month. In upholding the right of their clients, the attorneys work closely with both the District Attorney's Office and law enforcement agencies.
County Court at Law Number One handles a variety of cases on a daily basis. These cases range from criminal misdemeanor cases, bond forfeitures, probate, civil, juvenile, mental health cases, and family law matters, which include divorces, adoptions, guardianships, paternity suits, child support issues and modifications.
The jurisdiction of civil cases is up to $100,000.00. A large percentage of civil cases have to do with family matters such as divorces, paternity suits, and child custody cases.
All criminal cases filed in this court are misdemeanors such as Class A, whose range of punishment is confinement in jail not to exceed 1 year or a fine not to exceed $4,000.00, or both; and Class B, whose range of punishment is confinement in jail not to exceed 180 days or a fine not to exceed $2,000.00, or both.
111th DISTRICT COURT
Staff:
Gracie V. Garcia
Court Administrator
(956) 523-4722
gvgarcia@webbcountytx.gov
Abel Soliz
Civil Court Coordinator
(956) 523-4226
asoliz@webbcountytx.gov
Gloria Hernandez
Criminal Court Coordinator
(
956) 523-4225
ghernandez@webbcountytx.gov
Kimberly Lobello
Court Reporter
(956) 523-4229
klobello@webbcountytx.gov
Adriana Benavides Canavati
Court Interpreter/Clerk
(956) 523-4721
acanavati@webbcountytx.gov
Cynthia Olaez - Roa
Administrative Assistant
(
956) 523-4230
colaez@webbcountytx.gov
Fernando Ramos
Court Baliff
(956) 523-4227
framos@webbcountytx.gov
Orlando Juarez
Court Baliff
(956) 523-4228
orjuarez@webbcountytx.gov
341st District Court
Judge Elma Teresa Salinas Ender serves as the judge of the 341st District Court, a general jurisdiction court in Webb County.  When the 341st District Court was created in 1983, Judge Ender was appointed to the bench by Governor Mark White. She enjoys the distinction of being the first Mexican-American female judge in the State of Texas. She has been re-elected since then without opposition.
During her years in office, she has served as chair of and continues to serve as a member of the bail bond board, adult probation, juvenile probation, purchasing, auditing and local administrative judge.  Currently, Judge Salinas Ender serves as chair for the Board of Judges overseeing the Auditor and on the Indigent Defense Services Oversight Committee for the Webb County Judiciary.
Judge Ender was one of the two district judges appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the first commission ever created by the Supreme Court of Texas.  She served on the Texas Supreme Court Task Force of Foster Care, Court Improvement Project.  She currently serves on the Basic Projects CIP Committee for the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families.  She has served on the Committee on Judicial Ethics of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas, the committee that issues advisory opinions construing the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Appointed in 1995 by then Governor George Bush, as an ad hoc committee member, Judge Salinas Ender worked to rewrite the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures. Appointed by Governor Mark White in 1986, she served on a Task Force charged with drafting professional standards to be used to certify juvenile detention centers.  She has served as President, Vice President and 4th Administrative District Representative for the Texas District Judges’ Association, 1993-96.
Judge Ender is involved in numerous civic and community activities.  Her leadership in organizations committed to the advancement of women, include Leadership Texas, the Laredo Business and Professional Women’s Association, her participation in the National Hispana Leadership Institute, which included study at Harvard University’s JFK School of Public Affairs.
She holds a Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a B.B.A. from University of Texas in Austin, with a major in accounting.
406th Judicial District Court
On November 2, 2004, the Honorable Oscar J. Hale, Jr., was elected by the citizens of Webb County to serve as only the second judge of the 406th Judicial District Court. Judge Hale took office on January 1, 2005. Judge Hale was re-elected to the bench on November 4, 2008, and will serve his second term through 2012.
The 406th District Court was created in 1999 by the Texas Legislature to serve the County of Webb. It was created as a special district court to give preference to cases involving domestic violence, cases under the Family Code and Health and Safety Code. The Court began operations in January of 2001.
Subsequently, the Board of Judges agreed to have the 406th District Court handle all the family law matters that were filed in the district court along with all of the protective orders.
Upon taking office in January 2005, Judge Hale agreed to handle all of the newly filed felony drug cases in order to help equalize the dockets of the district courts.
Also, in March 2005, Judge Hale impaneled the first Grand Jury for the 406th Judicial District Court. Consequently, this court now handles 100 percent of the felony drug cases and about 1/3 of the felony criminal cases, including all the newly filed child abuse cases and felony domestic violence cases.
The 406th District Court also handles 18% of the general civil cases filed in Webb County. Additionally, Judge Hale presides over family law matters including adoptions, divorces, parental terminations, and protective orders. Consequently, the 406th District Court currently has the busiest case load among the four district courts in Webb County.
By working with our state legislators during the 79th Legislative Session, Judge Hale was successful in expanding the jurisdiction of the 406th District Court to include concurrent jurisdiction with the county courts in certain areas.
The 406th District Court also handles misdemeanor cases and civil cases arising out of the Family Code or Health and Safety Code. Judge Hale was also successful in modifying the terms of Court for the 406th Judicial District Court.
Effective September 1, 2005, the new terms of court for the 406th District Court begin on the first Monday in January, April, July, and October. A new Grand Jury is impaneled to serve during each term of court.
During his first year in office, Judge Hale also worked on improving the local rules for Webb County. In fact, Judge Hale serves as the Chairperson for the Local Rules Committee and during his term as Presiding Judge for District Courts the board of judges voted to adopt the new local rules in December 2, 2009.
49th JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
JUDGE JOE LOPEZ