Washington County DWI Court Process

First and second DWI offenses in Washington County fall under the Washington County Court at Law, 100 East Main Street, Suite 203, Brenham — phone 979-277-6200. Felony charges, including third offenses and cases involving a child passenger, go to the 21st Judicial District Court (which also covers Bastrop, Burleson, and Lee counties) or the 335th Judicial District Court, both in Suite 305 of the same courthouse. The County Attorney prosecutes misdemeanors; the District Attorney handles felonies.

Pretrial Diversion exists but eligibility is strictly gatekept — prior criminal history, any collision involved in the arrest, or an exceptionally high BAC routinely excludes an applicant before the case is even reviewed. Acceptance requires a sworn written letter accepting full responsibility and detailing the circumstances of the offense, character reference letters, a negative urinalysis, and proof of stable employment or enrollment. That confession letter is the real risk: if the defendant violates any term of the agreement — failing one drug test, missing a report date — the prosecutor terminates the diversion, puts the case back on the trial docket, and uses the signed confession as primary evidence to secure a conviction.

Courtroom decorum is strictly enforced. The dress code bans shorts, cut-offs, muscle shirts, tank tops, bare midriffs, hats, and torn or dirty clothing. Phones, pagers, and smartwatches must be completely off or silent before security; an audible device during proceedings means the bailiff seizes it and the judge can hold the owner in contempt with immediate fines. No food, drinks, or gum in the courtroom.

Given the Brenham Police Department's Texas Best Practices accreditation and its unusually rigorous internal standards, local defense attorneys lean less on challenging procedural arrest errors and more on negotiating plea terms or diversion eligibility up front.

Sources

• Washington County — Criminal Court
• Washington County — Code of Conduct