The 56th District Court of Galveston County is located in the Galveston County Justice Center at 600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551. The Justice Center, opened in 2018, houses the county's criminal courts, the District Attorney's Office, the district and county clerks' criminal sections, and the jail intake and holding areas, so nearly every step of a Galveston County criminal case happens under one roof. Our office at 622 22nd Street is a few minutes away.
Judge Cox is the longest-serving of the Galveston County district judges and the 56th publishes its own trial schedules and standing orders, which we review before every setting.
Jurisdiction for Criminal Cases
Felony Criminal Cases
The 56th District Court is a state district court with jurisdiction over felony cases filed in Galveston County — everything from state jail felonies such as possession of a controlled substance under one gram and third-offense DWI, up to first-degree felonies and capital murder. Misdemeanors are heard in the County Courts at Law, not here, unless a misdemeanor is joined with a felony arising from the same episode.
Felony cases reach the 56th District Court after a grand jury returns an indictment (or after the defendant waives indictment and proceeds on an information). Galveston County's felony courts share the district clerk's criminal section and rotate the grand jury among them.
Common types of cases heard in the 56th District Court
- Driving While Intoxicated — 3rd or More (Third-Degree Felony)
- Intoxication Assault and Intoxication Manslaughter
- Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 (State Jail Felony and above)
- Assault Family Member — Impeding Breath / Strangulation (Third-Degree Felony)
- Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Second-Degree Felony)
- Burglary of a Habitation
- Theft $2,500 and above
- Evading Arrest with a Vehicle
- Murder and Aggravated Robbery
Because the district courts also carry civil dockets, the criminal docket is typically called on designated days. Your first appearance after indictment is usually an arraignment setting, followed by a series of pretrial settings while discovery is exchanged under Article 39.14 and any motions are heard.
Parking for the 56th District Court
Public parking surrounds the Justice Center at 600 59th Street. Allow extra time to pass through security screening at the entrance — phones are allowed, but weapons, pocket knives, and anything that could be a weapon are not. Do not confuse the Galveston County Justice Center with the Galveston Municipal Court; they sit next to each other but handle completely different cases.
Judge of the 56th District Court
Judge Lonnie Cox
Judge Lonnie Cox presides over the 56th District Court. As a district judge, Judge Cox hears felony criminal cases as well as civil lawsuits, and rules on motions to suppress, bond matters, plea agreements, and sentencing in felony cases. 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 56th District Court
Rebecca Edrozo — Court Coordinator — (409) 766-2226
The court coordinator manages the court's docket and can confirm when your court date is, whether a court-appointed attorney has been assigned, and whether a reset or continuance 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.
Donna McGuire — Court Reporter — (409) 766-2227
The court reporter creates the official verbatim record of hearings and trials. That record is what an appellate court reviews if a case is appealed, which is why we make sure objections and rulings are stated clearly on the record.
Rules About Contacting the Court
Judges cannot speak with you about your case over the phone or in the hallway. The Judicial Code of Conduct, Canon 3, Section B(8), 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 56th District Court
(409) 766-2228 Main Line
600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
Charged with a Case in the 56th District Court?
Brian Foley and Luis Baez are former prosecutors who appear in the Galveston County courts regularly. Brian is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. If you have a court date in the 56th District Court, call or text (409) 877-4909 for a free, confidential consultation before you go.