Ex Parte Thomas P. Hughes

This case involves the authority of a district judge to hold the district clerk in contempt for failing to comply with the judges order to mail the trial docket to attorneys with cases pending before the district court. Upon assuming his duties as district clerk of Tarrant County, relator, Thomas P. Hughes, discontinued that courts customary practice of mailing copies of the trial docket to attorneys with cases pending before the district courts. On February 5, 1987, Judge John Street, presiding judge of the 352nd District Court, ordered Hughes to: (1) immediately mail out the March 1987 trial docket of the 352nd Court; (2) continue to mail the monthly trial dockets in the future; and, (3) certify his compliance with that order. Hughes gave notice that he would not comply with the order.