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Virtual Court Appearance
Contact Us
Email Sugar Land Municipal Court
Phone: 281-275-2560
Fax: 281-275-2648
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 110
Sugar Land, TX 77478
Virtual Docket
Virtual Court Proceedings are held on the 1st Friday of every month at 1:30 p.m. Virtual check-in begins at 1:00 p.m.
If a holiday falls on the first Friday of the month, virtual court will be scheduled for the following Friday.
What is Virtual Court?
Virtual Court Appearances provide defendants with the convenient option to resolve eligible cases through a video conference with a judge via Zoom, accessible on both computers and mobile devices. Court proceedings are also available for public viewing through a live stream on YouTube. Please review the eligibility requirements below to determine if your case qualifies. Please click here to access the live streaming of court sessions.
- Virtual Courtrooms are the same as Actual Courtrooms and the same rules and procedures apply.
- If you do not follow the Rules of Courtroom Conduct, you will be removed from the virtual courtroom until you comply.
- Proper clothing is strictly enforced - Inappropriate clothing or attire will not be permitted. The E-Court Dress Code is the same as if you were appearing in person in the courtroom.
- Avoid background noise and distractions – Make sure your environment is most favorable for attending court by video. Turn off and put away other devices (T.V., radio, etc.) so you can give your full attention to the proceedings.
- Do not record these proceedings.
- Show proper respect for the process – this is a formal proceeding. The judge and court personnel will be respectful to you. You are expected to be respectful in return.
Appearing Remotely
To request a remote appearance, the defendant must submit a written request setting out why appearing in-person would create an undue burden in one or more of the following circumstances:
- Defendant resides more than 50 miles from the courthouse as shown by the address on the citation or by an address provided by the defendant before the request is made.
- Defendant is a student enrolled and in actual attendance at a post-secondary college, university, community college, or technical school located more than 50 miles from the courthouse. Proof of current enrollment is required.
- Defendant has a compromised immune system or suffers from a chronic disease or condition and an in-person appearance would jeopardize the defendant’s health
- Defendant is the primary caretaker of a person unable to care for himself or herself and there is no reasonably available substitute care.
- Defendant is on active duty with the United States military and currently deployed to a location away from the address on record with the court or a dependent of a member of the United States military currently stationed at a location away from the address on record with the court.
All requests must be accompanied by supporting documentation to support undue burden.
Any circumstance that is not within those outlined, will be within the sole discretion of the judge.
Requests may be submitted via email to the court's official email address at municipalcourt@sugarlandtx.gov.
- A device capable of accessing an internet connection (PC, MAC, Smart Phone, Tablet, etc.).
- A fast and stable internet connection.
- A webcam attached to your PC or a built-in camera on your device will allow the Judge to see you during the video conference.
- A microphone connected or built-in mic that will allow you to talk to the Judge and your device must also have speakers attached or built-in that will allow you to hear what the judge is saying to you.
- A working email address; you may need to email images or documents for the Judge’s review.
- You will be required to provide the Court with a working email address and mobile phone number to ensure future successful contact with the Court.
Appearing remotely allows the defendant to:
- Enter a Plea of Not Guilty and request a trial by judge or trial by jury.
- Enter a plea of guilty or no contest. Defendants who plead Guilty or No Contest via the remote appearance have the same opportunities for payment plans, driver safety courses, or deferred disposition. These options are also available online and no appearance is required.
- Request an extension of the due dates established by a previous judgment.
- Appear in response to the Show Cause Order.
- Seek resolution of outstanding warrants.