CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Raul Adame was at Corpus Christi Municipal Court on Tuesday, finalizing his probation for a speeding ticket.
He was relieved to be out from under that burden.
"I've been on a thing for six months now, and today was my last day,” he said. “So it's great to have a clean record."
After hearing that the court will now hold Saturday “community court” sessions at Corpus Christi-area libraries starting Saturday, he said he thinks it’s a good idea, and could help lots of people like him.
"Some people can't make it during the week because they have straight work schedules, where they can't just call off,” he said. “So I think it helps them, better, out on the weekends, where they have way more free time at the end of the week instead of having to be in a constant rush."
The program aims to hold court once a month in order to help people with less flexible schedules. The inaugural event will take place at the Ben McDonald Library on Greenwood Drive.
The program allows residents to talk to a judge, set up payment plans, resolve any active warrants, among other things, and will be fully staffed so residents can get paperwork done during that one visit.
"I have seen some traffic come through where they do say, ‘I have work, I can't get off. I just started my job,’ so they're on a probationary period and I completely understand that,” said Municipal Court Presiding Judge Jackie del Llano Chapa. “And so we want to be able to work with those individuals and give them the opportunity to take care of their cases and time, not incur any warrants or any collection fees for their inability to come into court."
Saturday’s first community court session is scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; community court sessions will then rotate around Corpus Christi Public libraries each month.
"Just really get all their needs met,” she said. “We're going to be there, ready and accessible, for them to take care of it without having to take time off from work."