Ellis County Creates New Felony Court

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The Texas Legislature has passed legislation to create a new courtroom in Waxahachie, Ellis County to handle the growing number of felony cases. Governor Greg Abbott signed the order in late September to establish the 504th District Court, which will be the sixth district and county court at law judge in the county.

Why it matters

Ellis County's population has been surging, leading to an increased number of felony cases that the existing courts have struggled to manage. The new 504th District Court is intended to help alleviate the caseload and ensure timely and efficient handling of serious criminal matters in the rapidly growing region.

The details

All six of the county's district and county court at law judges determined the need for the additional court to handle the growing caseload. The 504th District Court will be the sixth such court in Ellis County, which has seen significant population growth in recent years.

• In late September 2026, Governor Greg Abbott signed the court order to establish the 504th District Court.
• The Texas Legislature passed legislation earlier in 2026 to create the new courtroom in Waxahachie to handle felony cases.

What’s next

The new 504th District Court is expected to begin hearing cases in early 2027 once the necessary administrative and staffing preparations are complete.