A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Texas's Fourth Court of Appeals

Clerk Michael Cruz provides a peek behind the curtain on the Texas Appellate Law Podcast

Michael Cruz, Clerk of the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio, has what he calls his “dream job.”

Jody Sanders and I recently interviewed Mike on the Texas Appellate Law Podcast. The interview helped us better appreciate what goes on behind the scenes at the Fourth Court and the effort required to keep our state’s intermediate appellate courts running smoothly.

Mike, a University of Texas School of Law graduate, shared several insights about what goes into serving one of the largest appellate districts in Texas. Tune in below or read on for some of the high points of the interview.

Meet the Clerk's Office Team

Mike oversees a staff of 10 people, including deputy clerks, legal assistants, an accountant, an HR pro, and an IT technician. He described them as the “heart and soul” of the Court's operations. With some staff tenures stretching over 15 years, there’s deep institutional knowledge. Even when the Clerk’s seat was vacant for a year before Mike arrived, the group kept the trains running on time.

Adapting During the Pandemic

When COVID hit in March 2020, Mike and his team faced a daunting challenge. Mike had just taken his seat as Clerk, and the Court didn’t have a telework policy in place. But within a month, the Court began holding remote oral arguments over Zoom. And when a statewide ransomware attack caused a 2.5-month filing backlog, Mike’s crack team cleared it in just two weeks flat.

Serving a Sprawling District

The Fourth Court covers 32 sprawling counties including Bexar County. The Court has recently taken on a significant influx of appeals from Operation Lone Star cases, turning what had been a transferee court into a transferor court under state docket-equalization mandates.

Focus on Accessibility

Mike emphasized the clerk’s office’s focus on accessibility, whether it’s fielding attorney calls promptly or patiently assisting self-represented litigants. Mike sees speaking to lawyers and members of the public as part of his job, and he does so whenever possible.

Leveraging Technology

On the tech side, the Court recently implemented an AV system to livestream oral arguments and memorials. Mike shared a touching example of how this helped connect a new attorney’s family from across the country for his swearing-in ceremony.

Parting Thoughts

One thing I appreciated about this conversation was how quickly Mike credited his staff for their important work. Court and law firm staff are the unsung heroes in our legal system and should always be treated courteously. As our visit with Mike shows, the Fourth Court’s staff excels at what they do, and the Court is better for it.