Contact Us

200 North 12th St
Corsicana, Texas 75110

Telephone: (903)654-4856
Fax: (903)654-4862

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday thru Friday

Email: Sharon Jennings, Court Administrator sjennings@ci.corsicana.tx.us

Municipal Court Personnel

Mike Russell, Presiding Judge
Micah Haden, Prosecutor
Sharon Jennings, Court Administrator/Clerk
Janette Montgomery, Court Clerk
Brenda Contreras, Sr. Deputy Clerk
Sharon Holmes, Deputy Clerk

What We Do
The Corsicana Municipal Court adjudicates all Class C misdemeanor citations or complaints issued by the Corsicana Police Department that are punishable by fine only.  The Court also has jurisdiction over any and all violations of Corsicana city ordinances.

The court is staffed with 3 court clerks who can assist you daily from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Court Clerks are not licensed attorneys and CANNOT provide you with legal advice.

Municipal Court Mission
The mission of the Corsicana Municipal Court is to provide a neutral, courteous and fair forum for the trial of all Class C misdemeanor offenses arising under Texas statutes and city ordinances. The Judge of the court is elected by the citizens of Corsicana to preserve, protect, and defend the United States Constitution, the Texas Constitution, and the laws of this state and city.

Court Appearances
The law required you to appear in court on your case. If you were issued a citation, your appearance date is 15 days or 28 days from the issuance of the citation (refer to the bottom of your citation). You or your attorney may appear in person in open court, by mail, or you may deliver your plea in person to the court. 

Your first appearance is to determine your plea. If you waive your right to a jury trial and plead guilty or no contest, you may talk to the judge about extenuating circumstances that you want the judge to consider when setting your fine. If you plead not guilty, the court will schedule your pre-trial hearing. If you make your appearance by mail, the court must receive your plea before your scheduled appearance date. If you plead guilty or no contest, you must include a waiver of jury trial.

Pleas
No person other than the person or their attorney who received the citation may enter a plea.

• Guilty – You admit that the act is prohibited by law and that you committed the act charged.

Before entering a plea of guilty you should first understand the following:

• The State has the burden of proving that you violated the law.
• You have the right to hear the State’s evidence and to require the State to prove you violated the law.
• A plea of guilty may be used against you later in a civil suit if there was a traffic accident.

• Nolo Contentere (No Contest) – You do not contest the State’s charge against you. You will be found guilty, unless you are eligible and complete a driver safety course or deferred disposition. A no contest plea may not be used against you in a subsequent civil suit for damages.
• Not Guilty – You are denying guilt and requiring the State to prove the charge filed against you. If you plea not guilty, you must decide if you wish to hire an attorney or represent yourself at trial.

Plea Form

Juvenile Appearances
Any person under the age of 17 is considered a juvenile. All juveniles are required to appear in open court, with a parent or legal guardian, to enter their plea before the Judge. You will be notified of a specific date and time to appear before the Judge.

• Juveniles who fail to appear as ordered may have an additional charge of Failure To Appear filed against them.
• Juveniles who fail to appear or fail to pay their fine will be reported to the DPS who will suspend or deny issuance of a driver’s license.
• If a juvenile disobeys a court order, the court may order DPS to suspend or deny issuance of a driver’s license or find the child in contempt and assess a fine not to exceed $500. If a non-traffic offense, the court may refer the case to juvenile court for contempt.
• Juveniles who are now 17 that failed to appear at the date and time stated on their summons may, after careful consideration and deemed accountable by the Judge, have a warrant issued for their arrest.

Minor Appearances
Any person age 17-21 is considered a minor. If you are 17 years of age and charged with an alcohol-related offense, you are required to appear in open court with a parent or legal guardian.

Failure to appear in court as required may result in an additional charge of Failure to appear AND a warrant being issued for your arrest.

All other minors are considered and handled as adult cases.

Payment Options
The Corsicana Municipal Court currently accepts cash, checks, and money orders. Mastercard and Visa payments are accepted only if you make the payment in person.

Fines and Court Costs
The amount of the fine the court assesses is determined by the facts and circumstances of the case. Mitigating circumstances may lower the fine, even if you are guilty. On the other hand, aggravating circumstances may increase the fine. The maximum fine for most traffic violations is $200; state law violations is $500; most ordinance violations are $500, but can be as much as $2000. 

In addition of a fine, court costs mandated by state and local law will be charged on each case for which you are convicted. The costs are different depending on the offense. You need to check with the clerk of the court for the amount that will be assessed for the violation for which you are charged.

Dismissible Offenses
The following offenses may be dismissible:

• Expired Registration – If registered within 20 working days of the date the citation was issued and proof is provided to the court. There will be a $10.00 dismissal fee for offenses prior to 1/1/08, $20 for offenses on or after 1/1/08.
• Expired Inspection – If the inspection has not been expired for more than 60 days and the vehicle has been inspected within 20 working days of the date the citation was issued. Proof of inspection must be provided to the court. There will be a $10.00 dismissal fee for offenses prior to 1/1/08, $20 for offenses on or after 1/1/08.
• Expired Driver’s License – If the driver’s license has been renewed within 20 working days of the date the citation was issued and proof is provided to the court. There will be a $10.00 dismissal fee for offenses prior to 1/1/08 and $20 for offenses on or after 1/1/08.
• Fail To Display Driver’s License – If you actually had a valid driver’s license and you provide proof to the court, there will be no dismissal fee.
• Fail To Maintain Proof of Financial Responsibility (No Insurance) – If you are able to provide proof that you or the vehicle you were driving at the time the citation was written, this charge may be dismissed at no charge.
• Fail to change address, operating a vehicle with only 1 license plate, obscured license plate, or defective equipment – Contact the court to find out if the offense is dismissible.

Driving Safety Course
If you are charged with a traffic offense, you may be eligible to take a driving safety course to dismiss the charge filed against you. The request must be made before the appearance date on the citation.

At the time of the request, you must present proof of financial responsibility (liability insurance) that was in effect at the time of the offense, enter a plea of guilty or no contest, provide a copy of a valid Texas driver’s license, and pay the court costs and an administrative fee for the offense.

In order to be eligible to take a driver safety course, you must not have taken a driver safety course in the last 12 months. You will be required to enter a plea, provide a copy of a valid Texas driver’s license and valid proof of financial responsibility (liability insurance) that was in effect at the time of the citation, and you must pay the court costs for the violation.

The following are NOT ELIGIBLE to take a Driver Safety Course:

• Have not requested and taken a driving safety course within 12 months and are not currently taking a course for another traffic violation;

• Held a commercial driver’s license (CDL) at the time the offense occurred
• Speeding 25 or more miles per hour over the speed limit or over 94 miles per hour
• Passing a school bus
• Reckless driving
• Flee or attempt to flee from a police officer 
• Failure to stop and give information  
• The offense occurred in a construction zone when workers are present

If approved, the case will be postponed for 90 days to allow you time to complete the course. You must attend a driving safety course that has been approved by the Texas Education Agency or a motorcycle operator’s course approved by the Department of Public Safety.

If you fail to complete the driver safety course or submit all documentation as ordered you will be notified to appear before the Judge to show cause why you failed to comply.

Deferred Disposition (Probation)
All requests for Deferred Disposition (Probation) must be made in person before the appearance date on your citation. Approval, length of the deferral period and terms and conditions of the deferral order are subject to the Judge’s discretion.

• You are NOT ELIGIBLE for deferral if you held a commercial driver’s license at the time the offense occurred.
• You are NOT ELIGIBLE if the offense was committed in a construction zone while workers were present.
• Drivers under the age of 25 are required to take a driver safety course as a term or condition of the deferral order.
• Driver’s that hold a provisional driver’s license are required to retest at DPS

Failure to comply with any term or condition of your deferral order may result in revocation of the order and conviction may be placed on your driver record.

Trial Information

• Pre-Trials - Any person who wants to speak with the prosecutor before entering a plea or who enters a plea of not guilty will be set on a pre-trial docket. At the pre-trial the prosecutor may make recommendations or offers prior to going to trial. This saves time for all parties involved.
• Bench Trial – A bench trial is a trial where the judge decides your guilt or innocence.
• Jury Trials – A jury trial is where 6 persons selected by you and the prosecutor decide your guilt or innocence. If you decide to have your case heard by a jury, you have the right to question the jurors about their qualifications to hear your case. If you thing that a juror will not be fair, impartial or unbiased, you may ask the judge to excuse the juror. The judge will decide whether or not to grant your request. You are also permitted to “strike” three members of the jury panel for any legal reason.