This is the question every client asks whether it’s in a family or criminal case. While it may be hard for clients to understand this in not always a simple or an easy answer. Clients who have family law cases in Bexar County make this question particularly unanswerable.

Bexar County civil courts have a presiding system with 14 judges. What this means is if you want a hearing in front of a judge you and your attorney will not know which one of the 14 judges you will get until about 5 minutes before the hearing starts.

This makes it difficult for attorneys to advise their clients what a judge will do in a particular case. Some judges have a preference that the children mainly reside with the mother, some judges have a preference towards the father, some judges will enforce a court order through incarcerating the non-complying parent, other judges will just tell the other parent to behave themselves and will send them home. These rulings come from the judges’ personal opinions, life experiences, and their experiences as a lawyer and on the bench.

Even in criminal cases where you know what judge will be on the bench the outcomes are not certain. Judges have a wide range of decision making power; meaning 10 different judges could make 10 different decisions after hearing the same case and none of those decisions would likely be violating the law.

This is why, when possible, it is better for clients, especially in family law matters, to control their own destiny and their own orders by coming to an agreement with the other parent to resolve the issues.

At the Christiansen Law Firm we are happy to help clients resolve issues through agreement or through a contested hearing. Contact our firm today to set up a free consultation.