Q: I want to investigate my friends criminal case, post conviction. Can I access his trial transcripts off pacer?
Also I am difficulty getting the right case numbers, everytime I search them , just comes up with nothing found. I have the district court, county, Judge, his attorney. I want to tear my hair out!!!
A:
No do not tear your hair out. You should be able to find the cause numbers, lawyers and specific charges on the County Website. Most Counties have them set up now. You need to look for district court criminal records which are generally found (strangely enough?) under "Law Enforcement" (Sheriff's Office) and under "public records" If you cannot find it let me know the county you are in and I'll send you the link if I can find it. I will post the link for Hays County below so you can see what it looks like. Good luck.
http://www.co.hays.tx.us/district-courts.aspx
Once you have the website above you click on "Law Enforcement" click on Sheriff and scroll down to "public records". Then select "criminal case records. Be forewarned getting records will be difficult. As a defense lawyer I am forbidden from providing my client with copies of documents the state gives to me as discovery. I understand the logic but I disagree they have a right to tell me how to best represent my client!
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