Judge Clay White

Location

Smith County Courthouse
100 N. Broadway, Room 303
Tyler, Texas 75702

Phone: (903)590-1690

Fax: (903)590-1696

This Court handles Class A/B adult misdemeanors, civil cases and family law cases. This court also handles the administration of Texas Probate Laws, hearing all the probate and guardianship matters filed in Smith County.

Links

• Judicial Records Search and Records Inquiry
• Smith County Local Rules of Civil Trial
• Standing Order Regarding Courtroom Decorum and Media Access

Weekly Court Dockets

Civil and Criminal Dockets: 

Please check the County's website for the verification of most current civil and criminal court settings.  A link to Smith County Judicial Search is provided above. 

Both dockets are heard in person. Criminal Defendants out on a bond must appear in Court to sign their Notice of Setting. Failure to appear by the Defendant in a criminal case will result in the Defendant's bond being forfeited and a warrant issued for their arrest.

Any cases with the criminal Defendant being incarcerated are typically heard on Thursday morning in court. 

Arraignment Dockets:

Arraignment dockets for the current year have been posted to this website. 

Arraignment will be held at 100 North Broadway Avenue, Tyler, Texas at 8:00 a.m. in the Central Jury Room of the Smith County Courthouse, unless otherwise noted.   Arraignment dates are based upon the Defendant date of arrest.  These dates and times are found on the right-hand corner at the top of the Defendant's bond.

However, should it be noted differently, the Defendant should appear in person in the County Court at Law No. 3 Courtroom on the 3rd Floor of the Smith County Courthouse, 100 North Broadway Avenue, Tyler, Texas at the designated date and time.

 If a waiver of arraignment has not been filed or the Defendant fails to appear at criminal arraignment docket, it will result in the Defendant's bond being forfeited and a warrant issued for their arrest.

Attorneys will find a waiver of arraignment form approved and used by this Court under the forms section on this website.  All waivers of arraignment should be e-filed with the Smith County Clerk's Office at least a day prior to arraignment.  Do not use any other Court's waiver of arraignment forms. 

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Probate/Guardianship

• Local Rules
• Pro Se Policy
• Submitting Paperwork for Will Prove-Ups and Heirships: When & How?
• Ad Litem Application

Administrative Orders

• Standing Order  re: requirement of good standing in probate and guardianship matters
• Standing Order of Instruction Relating to Application to Determine Heirship
• Standing Order of Instruction Relating to Suspended Probate and Guardianship Cases
• Administrative Order Regarding All Probate and Guardianship Proceedings
• Administrative Order Requiring the Use of the Court's Approved Form for Small Estate Affidavits
• Administrative Order Requiring the Use of the Court's Approved Form for Dependent Administration Annual Accounts
• Administrative Order Requiring the Use of the Court's Approved Form for Guardianship Annual Reports
• Administrative Order Requiring the Use of the Court's Approved Form for Guardianship Annual Accounts
• Administrative Order Authorizing $500 Fee to be Collected by the County Clerk for Attorney Ad Litem Appointments

Docket Calendar

All uncontested probate/guardianship hearings are held in the courtroom on the first floor of the Courthouse Annex located at 200 E. Ferguson Street.

Attention: Only contested matters and compliance cases are transcribed. If a party wishes to have the hearing transcribed by the court reporter, please advise the Probate Administrator.

All dockets are subject to change.

• Monday, October 6, 2025 (Zoom Option)
• Tuesday, October 7, 2025 (Compliance)
• Monday, October 13, 2025
• Monday, October 20, 2025
• Monday, October 27, 2025
• Monday, November 3, 2025 (Zoom Option)
• Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Compliance)
• Monday, November 10, 2025
• Monday, November 17, 2025
• Monday, December 1, 2025 (Zoom Option)
• Monday, December 8, 2025
• Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (Compliance)
• Monday, December 15, 2025
• Monday, January 5, 2026 (Zoom Option)
• Tuesday, January 6, 2026 (Compliance)
• Monday, January 12, 2026
• Tuesday, January 20, 2026
• Monday, January 26, 2026
• Monday, February 2, 2026 (Zoom Option)
• Friday, February 6, 2026 (Compliance)
• Monday, February 9, 2026
• Tuesday, February 17, 2026
• Monday, February 23, 2026
• Monday, March 2, 2026 (Zoom Option)
• Monday, March 16, 2026
• Friday, March 20, 2026 (Compliance)
• Monday, March 23, 2026
• Monday, March 30, 2026
• Monday, April 6, 2026 (Zoom Option)
• Monday, April 13, 2026
• Friday, April 17, 2026 (Compliance)
• Monday, April 20, 2026
• Monday, April 27, 2026
• Friday, May 8, 2026 (Compliance)
• Monday, May 18, 2026 (Zoom Option)
• Tuesday, May 26, 2026
• Monday, June 1, 2026 (Zoom Option)

In order to set a Zoom hearing, the applicant/witnesses must live out of this region. Zoom hearings will be held once a month, so be aware that there may be a delay in getting a setting. Please contact the Court for available dates.