Your Rights
You have many rights as a defendant in Municipal Court:
Your rights during trial:
If you need the services of an interpreter, please notify the municipal court staff at the time of your request for a court date. If you have questions about your rights, you may hire an attorney.
If you were arrested you will be, or may have been read, the following information:
1. You have the right to hire an attorney.
2. You have the right to remain silent.
3. You are not required to make a statement, and any statement you make can and probably will be used against you.
4. You have the right to stop any interview / questioning at any time.
5. If you are indigent, you have a right to a hearing to determine if you are indigent.
6. You can plea GUILTY to the charge and pay the fine and court costs in this matter. On a plea of guilty, the court will find you
guilty of the charge and accept your payment.
7. You can plea NOLO CONTENDERE (NO CONTEST) to the charge and pay the fine and court costs in this matter. On a plea of
nolo contendere, the court will find you guilty of the charge and accept your payment.
8. You can plea NOT GUILTY, to the charge and hire an attorney or represent yourself in court. A trial date will be set for you to plead your case before the court.
- You are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
- You have the right to testify on your own behalf or refuse to do so without consequences.
- You have the right to retain an attorney, but you are not required to do so.
- You have the right to represent yourself as a pro se defendant.
- You have the right to plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest.
- You have the right to receive a copy of the complaint before trial as well as other information the state has about your case (discovery).
Your rights during trial:
- You have the right to a jury trial or a trial before a judge.
- You have the right to hear all testimony introduced against you.
- You have the right to cross examine witnesses who testify against you.
- You have the right to testify on your own behalf or refuse to do so without consequences.
- You have the right to subpoena and call witnesses to testify on your behalf.
- You have the right to appeal.
If you need the services of an interpreter, please notify the municipal court staff at the time of your request for a court date. If you have questions about your rights, you may hire an attorney.
If you were arrested you will be, or may have been read, the following information:
1. You have the right to hire an attorney.
2. You have the right to remain silent.
3. You are not required to make a statement, and any statement you make can and probably will be used against you.
4. You have the right to stop any interview / questioning at any time.
5. If you are indigent, you have a right to a hearing to determine if you are indigent.
6. You can plea GUILTY to the charge and pay the fine and court costs in this matter. On a plea of guilty, the court will find you
guilty of the charge and accept your payment.
7. You can plea NOLO CONTENDERE (NO CONTEST) to the charge and pay the fine and court costs in this matter. On a plea of
nolo contendere, the court will find you guilty of the charge and accept your payment.
8. You can plea NOT GUILTY, to the charge and hire an attorney or represent yourself in court. A trial date will be set for you to plead your case before the court.
NO WEAPONS ALLOWED IN THE COURTROOM - Texas Penal Code 46.03