Find Court Docket in Cochran County
Cochran County court docket records are managed at the courthouse in Morton, Texas, the county seat for one of the most sparsely populated counties on the South Plains. The District Clerk's office keeps the official docket for civil, criminal, and family cases in the district court. This page covers online search options, office contact details, and the methods available for requesting court docket records from Cochran County.
Cochran County Overview
Cochran County District Clerk
The District Clerk in Cochran County is the official custodian of all district court docket records. This office logs every action in a case from the first filing to the last entry. Motions, hearings, orders, and dispositions all go into the docket. The staff can help you locate case files and process requests for copies.
Morton is a small town in the western South Plains, near the New Mexico state line. The courthouse is where all district court records are filed and stored. Cochran County has one of the lowest populations in Texas, which means the clerk's office handles a relatively light caseload. That can work in your favor if you need personal attention on a records request. Certified copies and court orders come from this office.
| Office | Cochran County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. Main Street, Morton, TX 79346 |
| Phone | (806) 266-5450 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
The County Clerk handles county court records, probate, and misdemeanor cases. For felony matters and civil cases over $200, the District Clerk is the right office.
The Texas Judicial Branch website at txcourts.gov provides information about how Cochran County courts connect to the broader state system. The image below shows the homepage.
This site links to court directories, procedural rules, and the re:SearchTX portal for online case searches across Texas counties including Cochran.
Searching Cochran County Court Docket Online
The primary free tool for searching Cochran County court docket records is re:SearchTX at txcourts.gov/researchtx. This statewide portal from the Office of Court Administration covers more than 150 Texas counties. Search by party name or case number. Results include filing dates, case types, party names, and current status. Basic searches are free with no account needed.
Full docket sheets, motions, and exhibits may not all be available online. For detailed documents, contact the District Clerk directly. Name searches sometimes miss because of data entry differences, so try alternate spellings. Case number searches give you the best results. For older records not in the portal, call or visit the clerk in Morton.
Note: Cochran County shares its judicial district with other South Plains counties, so the district judge travels between courthouses on a rotation.
What Cochran County Court Docket Records Show
A court docket is the official log of every action in a case. Cochran County docket records cover felony criminal cases, civil disputes, family law matters like divorce and custody, and juvenile proceedings. Each entry identifies the case number, parties, action taken, and date.
Docket files typically contain the original petition or indictment, answers from the other party, motions and rulings, hearing schedules, court orders, and the final judgment. Family law dockets may include temporary orders and property inventories. Criminal dockets log arraignments, pleas, bonds, and sentencing. Under the Texas Government Code, felony and civil records are permanent. Juvenile and sealed records are restricted.
Attorneys file in Cochran County through eFileTexas, the state's mandatory e-filing portal. Below is the login page.
The public does not file through this system. It explains why attorney-submitted documents appear quickly in the court docket after electronic submission.
Getting Copies in Cochran County
Cochran County court docket records are available in person, by mail, or online. Visiting the District Clerk in Morton is the most direct way. Bring photo ID and a list of what you need. Staff can pull files and make copies. The small office size often means you get quick, personal service.
Mail requests should include the case name and number along with a check or money order. Plain copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $1.00 per page. Processing times vary.
Online, re:SearchTX provides basic case lookups. Full document access through the portal may be limited for a county this size. The Office of Court Administration continues to expand coverage over time.
Public Access to Cochran County Records
Court records in Cochran County are public under Texas law. Government Code Chapter 552, the Texas Public Information Act, presumes government records are open unless an exemption applies. Most docket entries, case filings, and judgments fall under this rule.
Formal requests should go to the District Clerk in writing. The office has ten business days to respond. The Attorney General's office provides guidance at texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government. If a request is denied, the AG can issue a ruling on whether the records should be released.
The Texas State Law Library at sll.texas.gov offers free access to statutes and court rules. The image below shows the library homepage.
This resource helps you find the laws and procedures that apply to records access in Cochran County.
Note: Sealed records, juvenile cases, and some family law documents are not available to the public under Texas law.
Cochran County Court Structure
Cochran County is part of the 286th Judicial District, which covers multiple counties in the South Plains. The district court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases above $200, family law, and juvenile matters. The county has a constitutional county court for misdemeanors, probate, and smaller civil disputes. Justice of the peace courts manage small claims and minor offenses.
Texas courts operate under two high courts. The Supreme Court handles civil appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals handles criminal matters. Attorneys must file through eFileTexas. Self-represented parties can file in person at the Morton courthouse. Look up Texas statutes at capitol.texas.gov, including the Family Code and Government Code that affect court proceedings in Cochran County.
Legal Resources for Cochran County
Free legal help is available for people dealing with court docket matters in Cochran County. TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org provides plain-language guides on family law, housing, and civil issues. The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral service covering the South Plains area.
Legal aid groups serving the Lubbock region also cover Cochran County for income-qualifying residents. The Texas State Library and Archives at tsl.texas.gov holds historical records. For criminal history information related to Cochran County cases, the DPS Crime Records service at dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records is the statewide resource.
Nearby Texas Counties
Cochran County borders several South Plains counties near the New Mexico state line. Each has its own District Clerk office and court docket system. Cases involving parties in more than one county may appear in multiple jurisdictions.