The Galveston County Court at Law No. 2 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.
County Court at Law No. 2 also hears family-law matters and has an associate family judge, so a criminal docket may share the courtroom with family cases on some mornings.
Jurisdiction for Criminal Cases
Misdemeanor Criminal Cases
The County Court at Law No. 2 is a statutory county court with jurisdiction over Class A and Class B misdemeanors filed in Galveston County. Class C misdemeanors are heard in the Justice of the Peace courts and municipal courts and come to a County Court at Law only on appeal. Felonies are heard in the district courts.
Common types of cases heard in the County Court at Law No. 2
- Driving While Intoxicated — First Offense (Class B)
- Driving While Intoxicated — Second Offense or BAC 0.15+ (Class A)
- Possession of Marijuana under 2 ounces (Class B)
- Theft $100 – $750 (Class B) and $750 – $2,500 (Class A)
- Assault Family Member and Assault Bodily Injury (Class A)
- Public Intoxication appeals, Criminal Trespass, Evading on Foot, Resisting Arrest
Most misdemeanor cases begin with an arraignment setting a few weeks after arrest, followed by pretrial settings while the State produces the offense report, video, and lab results. Many settings can be handled by your attorney without you present, but the court's own rules control and we tell every client exactly when they must appear.
Parking for the County Court at Law No. 2
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 County Court at Law No. 2
Judge Kerri Foley
Judge Kerri Foley presides over the County Court at Law No. 2. As a county court at law judge, Judge Foley interprets the law and makes rulings based on the evidence presented in misdemeanor criminal cases, and also hears family and civil matters assigned to the court. 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 County Court at Law No. 2
Marissa Moore — Court Coordinator — (409) 766-2405
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.
Kate Piper — Court Reporter — (409) 766-2407
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 County Court at Law No. 2
(409) 766-2405 Main Line
600 59th Street, Galveston, TX 77551
Charged with a Case in the County Court at Law No. 2?
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 County Court at Law No. 2, call or text (409) 877-4909 for a free, confidential consultation before you go.