Juvenile Court

Agenda & Jurisdiction

474th District Juvenile Court tries all juvenile cases.

Counsel for Indigent Defendants

View the Standards and Procedures Relating to the Appointment of Counsel for Indigent Juvenile Defendants (PDF) to learn about indigent defendants.

Detention Hearings & Warnings

Typically held every Monday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Please refer to the dress code and court etiquette.

Dress Code

Most hearings are open to the public. Appropriate dress is expected in the courtroom. No shorts, tank tops, hats/caps for men, or bare feet are allowed. Unattended children are not allowed in the courtroom

Jury Trials

Potential jurors usually report at 8 a.m. on Monday mornings. After listening to instructions given by the District Clerk, they will be assigned to the various courts requiring a jury. Jury trials for juvenile cases usually begin on Monday mornings. For more information, please view the District Clerk's Juror Information page.

Settings

Requests regarding settings should be directed to Lisa Blakemore by phone, fax, or mail.

Transcriptions of Trials/Hearings

Inquiries regarding transcripts should be directed to Lisa Blakemore by phone, fax, or mail.

Filing

Requests for information items for filing should be directed to the District Clerk's Office on the Filing Information page.

Contact Us

Alan Bennett

Judge

Judge Alan Bennett was appointed the first judge of the 474th District Court of McLennan County in December 2022 by Governor Greg Abbott. Judge Bennett was sworn in and took office in January 2023. Judge Bennett began his legal career in 1991 as a prosecutor in the McLennan County District Attorney’s office. He was a prosecutor there for 6 years. During his tenure in the McLennan County DA’s office, Judge Bennett advanced from a misdemeanor prosecutor to a felony prosecutor. He also served as chief of the misdemeanor division of the DA’s office. He also began his work in appellate law where he represented the State in cases heard by the Waco Court of Appeals and the Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin. Judge Bennett is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in criminal law and criminal appellate law.
Judge Bennett moved on from the DA’s office in January 1996 when he began serving as a staff attorney for Chief Justice Rex Davis at the Waco Court of Appeals. Judge Bennett served as a staff attorney at the Waco Court of Appeals for 14 years working for Chief Justice Davis and for Justice Felipe Reyna. Judge Bennett also collaborated on a regular basis with Chief Justice Tom Gray, former Justice Bill Vance, former Justice Bobby Cummings, and former Chief Justice Frank G. McDonald during his tenure with the Court of Appeals.
Judge Bennett launched a private practice with Sheehy, Lovelace & Mayfield, PC beginning in January 2011. During a 12-year stint with Sheehy, Lovelace & Mayfield, Judge Bennett practiced in civil litigation—including litigation stemming from the West explosion, civil appellate law, criminal defense, criminal appellate law and family law.
During his 30-plus year legal career, Judge Bennett has represented clients in more than 75 jury trials. He has represented clients in over 150 appeals. He has appeared before most of the 14 intermediate courts of appeals in Texas, the Supreme Court of Texas, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Judge Bennett is also involved in the Waco community. He is an active member of Dayspring Baptist Church. He is a member of the Central Texas Choral Society. Judge Bennett has 4 adult children and 1 grandson.

More Information
474th District Court

Physical Address
2601 Gholson Road
Waco, TX 76704

2601 Gholson Road Waco TX 76704

Directions

Mailing Address
2601 Gholson Road
Waco, TX 76704

Phone: 254-757-5047

Directory

Juvenile Court

Contact Us

Alan Bennett

474th District Court