Courtroom watch program
Open courts only work when the door is actually used.
Family dockets in North Texas are public, and almost always empty. Our volunteers fill those benches with trained, neutral observers who log exactly what happens — and publish it.
Volunteer as an observerWhy it stops unfair orders
Hearings slow down when someone is watching
Observers consistently report longer hearings, fuller findings on the record, and fewer off-the-record hallway resolutions on dockets we cover.
Patterns become provable
One family's bad hearing is anecdote. Two hundred structured observation forms across six counties is data an administrative judge has to answer for.
Parents stop walking in alone
A watcher in the gallery gives a self-represented parent a witness, a timeline, and notes they can hand to appellate counsel later.
Appointments and fees get sunlight
We log which amicus attorneys, evaluators, and appointed counsel appear before which courts, and how often their recommendations are adopted.
How a shift works
- Step 1
Apply
Two minutes. Tell us your county and availability.
- Step 2
Train
A 90-minute online session on courtroom conduct, what to log, and what never to record.
- Step 3
Observe
Attend a public docket, complete the structured form on your phone.
- Step 4
Report
Submissions are reviewed, aggregated, and published as county scorecards.
Observers never speak in court, never approach parties, never record audio or video, and never log the names of children. Watching is not advocacy — the neutrality is what makes the record credible.
Join the program
Take one morning a month.
No legal background required. Most volunteers are parents, students, retirees, and faith or community group members. You choose your county and how often you sit.
- Must be 18 or older
- Cannot observe a court where you are a party
- Training provided free, online
- Minimum one docket every two months