Kendall County DWI Court Process
Complete guide to arraignment, court dates, plea options, and what to expect during your DWIcase in Kendall County.
Court Information
Kendall County General Sessions Court
Court Day Checklist
Required Documents
Day-Of Reminders
Tip: Screenshot or print this checklist. Check items off as you prepare the night before.
Court Process Timeline
Arraignment
First court appearance, typically within 24-48 hours after arrest.
What Happens:
- Judge reads charges against you
- You enter initial plea (usually Not Guilty)
- Bail is set or reviewed
- Next court date is scheduled
- Public defender appointed if needed
Pre-Trial Hearings
Multiple court dates over 2-6 months where your attorney negotiates with prosecutors.
Attorney Activities:
- Review police reports and evidence
- File motions to suppress evidence
- Challenge breathalyzer/blood test results
- Negotiate plea bargains
- Discuss diversion program eligibility
Plea Bargain or Trial
Most DWI cases (over 90%) resolve through plea bargaining, not trial.
Plea Bargain Benefits
- • Reduced charges
- • Lighter sentence
- • Certainty of outcome
- • Lower costs
Trial Risks
- • Maximum sentence if convicted
- • Higher legal fees
- • Uncertainty
- • Time consuming
Sentencing
Judge determines penalties based on the plea agreement or trial verdict. Sentences may include fines, probation, jail time, license suspension, IID, SCRAM monitoring, and/or DUI classes.
Top Rated Kendall County DWI Attorneys
When facing a DWI charge in Kendall County, finding local, experienced representation is critical. Below are DWI defense attorneys serving Kendall County, TX; paid listings are advertisements and ratings are from Google.
These are free, unclaimed business listings compiled from public sources. They have not been verified or reviewed by DUI Guide, are not paid advertisements, and listing order does not reflect quality or recommendation. Is this your business? You can claim your listing for free.
Fowlks Law Firm
★ 5.0 (252) on GoogleJoyner + Joyner
★ 4.9 (210) on GoogleDon't Face This Alone
A DWI attorney can make the difference between a conviction and a dismissal, between jail time and probation. They know local judges, prosecutors, and can challenge evidence that you might not even know is challengeable.
Find Kendall County DWI AttorneysFrequently Asked Questions
The Kendall County courthouse bans clothing depicting "grotesque creatures." It's a real line in the dress code, sitting alongside the more predictable prohibitions on shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, and gang-affiliated apparel, and it says everything about how literally this courthouse enforces its own rules. Violations aren't just frowned on — a bailiff can deny entry outright, which counts as a missed appearance and triggers a bench warrant.
Which court, which judge
Misdemeanor DWI (first and second offense, absent serious aggravating factors) goes to the County Court at Law, presided over by Hon. Shane Stolarczyk, who also serves as the county's constitutional County Judge chairing the Commissioners Court. Felony DWI — third offense, intoxication assault or manslaughter, or a child passenger — moves to the District Courts: the 451st under Hon. Kirsten B. Cohoon, or the newly created 498th under Hon. Katherine McDaniel, a former first assistant DA appointed by Governor Abbott in 2025. All three sit at 201 E San Antonio Avenue.
Security is not a formality here
Every person and item entering the courthouse goes through a physical search and metal detector, and the line backs up fast on a busy morning docket. Arrive at least 45 minutes early. Phones, pagers, and any electronic device must be off or silent before crossing the threshold — a phone that rings during a docket call in front of Judge Stolarczyk has a real chance of being confiscated on the spot, with the owner reprimanded or fined in open court.
No specialty DWI court here
Some larger Texas counties run a dedicated SOBER court for repeat offenders; Kendall County doesn't. Rehabilitation-focused defendants are routed instead through standard pre-trial diversion or outpatient programs coordinated through the regional alcohol and drug abuse council based in Kerrville, not a standalone therapeutic docket.
Getting your own case file
The District Clerk requires a specific portal for record searches, and pulling anything filed before 2010 costs $5 per person plus another $5 per decade — payable only through the state e-file system, in person, or by mailed money order. There's no way to pay online for an older record.