The 488th District Court of Harris County is a felony court located on the 20th Floor of the Harris County Criminal Justice Center at 1201 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77002. The Criminal Justice Center houses all of Harris County's felony district courts, the sixteen misdemeanor County Criminal Courts at Law, the District Attorney's Office, and the criminal sections of the District Clerk, so nearly every step of a Harris County felony case happens in this one building. Our office at 310 Main, Suite 201 is a two-block walk away.
Jurisdiction of the 488th District Court
Felony Criminal Cases
The 488th District Court is one of the Harris County district courts that hear only criminal cases. It has jurisdiction over every level of felony filed in Harris County — state jail felonies, third-degree, second-degree, and first-degree felonies, and capital murder. Misdemeanors are heard in the County Criminal Courts at Law, and Class C tickets in the justice and municipal courts.
Common types of cases heard in the 488th District Court
- Felony DWI (third offense), Intoxication Assault, and Intoxication Manslaughter
- Aggravated Assault and Assault Family Member with a prior conviction or by strangulation
- Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Deliver
- Theft of $2,500 or more, Burglary of a Habitation, Robbery and Aggravated Robbery
- Murder, Capital Murder, and sexual assault cases
- Felony Solicitation of Prostitution and felon in possession of a weapon
A Harris County felony case usually starts with a probable-cause hearing before a magistrate within 24 to 48 hours of arrest, a bond setting, and then a first appearance in the 488th District Court a few weeks later. From there the case moves through arraignment, discovery, pretrial settings, and — if it is not dismissed, no-billed, or resolved by agreement — a jury trial. Most Harris County felony courts require the accused to be present at every setting unless the judge has excused a specific date.
Parking for the 488th District Court
The Criminal Justice Center sits at the corner of Franklin and San Jacinto in downtown Houston. Paid surface lots and garages surround the building along Franklin, Congress, and Caroline, and the METRORail Red Line stops at Preston two blocks away. Arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes early: the security line at the Franklin Street entrance and the elevator wait to the 20th Floor can both be long on docket mornings. Weapons and pocket knives are not allowed in the building.
Judge of the 488th District Court
Judge Matthew Peneguy
Judge Matthew Peneguy presides over the 488th District Court of Harris County. A district judge interprets the law, rules on motions to suppress evidence and other pretrial matters, sets and modifies bond conditions, accepts pleas, and presides over jury trials. A judge may only interact with you about your case when the other side is present, so all communication with the court should go through your attorney.
Court Staff of the 488th District Court
Diane Madrid — Court Coordinator
The court coordinator manages the court's docket and can confirm your court date, whether a court-appointed attorney has been assigned, and whether a reset has been granted. If you have a lawyer, your lawyer should be the one calling. If you are unrepresented, keep any call strictly to scheduling — court staff cannot give legal advice and anything you say about the facts of your case can be repeated.
Kathleen Powers — Court Reporter
The court reporter creates the official verbatim record of hearings and trials. That record is what the Court of Appeals reviews if the case is appealed, which is why we make sure objections and rulings are stated clearly on the record.
Savannah Santacruz — Court Clerk (District Clerk's Office)
The court clerk is an employee of the Harris County District Clerk assigned to this courtroom. The clerk maintains the court file, processes bonds and filings, and issues settings and notices. Case records can be searched online through the District Clerk's website.
Jason Campo — Chief Prosecutor (Harris County District Attorney's Office)
The chief prosecutor supervises the assistant district attorneys assigned to the 488th District Court and can be reached through the District Attorney's Office at (713) 274-0481. Never contact the prosecutor about your case yourself — that is your attorney's job, and statements you make can be used against you.
Rules About Contacting the Court
Judges cannot speak with you about your case over the phone or in the hallway. Canon 3, Section B(8) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits a judge from initiating, permitting, or considering ex parte communications — communications about a pending case made outside the presence of the other party. Do not write letters to the judge, do not try to explain your side to court staff, and do not contact the prosecutor on your own. Have an attorney handle these matters.
Contact for the 488th District Court
(832) 927-8615 Court Coordinator / Main Line
20th Floor, Harris County Criminal Justice Center, 1201 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77002
Court hours are generally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with dockets usually called at 9:00 a.m. Case information and settings are available online through the Harris County District Clerk's website (hcdistrictclerk.com).
Charged with a Case in the 488th District Court?
Brian Foley and Luis Baez are former Harris County prosecutors who tried cases in this building for years before founding Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys PLLC. Brian is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and served as a Felony Chief Prosecutor; Luis is a former Trial Bureau Chief. If you have a court date in the 488th District Court, call or text (713) 703-1718 for a free, confidential consultation before you go.
See all Harris County criminal courts.