The wheels of justice in DeWitt County weigh a lot less these days with the conversion of files to electronic formats. Prior to 2025, all cases on the 24th Judicial District Attorney’s docket were paper copies. On a typical day in court, there can be as many as 120 cases, which in the past required stacks of records several feet high.
Since taking office in January, District Attorney Brian Cromeen’s office began using an electronic record system that is integrated with local law enforcement as well as county and judicial offices.
Cromeens explained the situation. “Everything was done with paper files. All the agencies had to bring multiple copies of each case in stacks of paper to this office to be sorted,” he said.
Additionally, Whitney Smith, the DA’s administrative manager, noted that storing and accessing these files has been time-consuming.
“The file room is very organized, but it can still be difficult to find the files. With Local Government Solutions (LGS),
everything is at your fingertips. You can type in a keyword, and the file pops up,” she said.
E-filing is now mandatory in Texas. DeWitt County’s justice of the peace offices started the process of using electronic files in February.
Cromeens, who took office in January, discussed with Smith the transition to a digital case management system for their three-county jurisdiction using LGS. A private company founded in Waxahachie in 1999, LGS helps local governments manage their data, streamlining productivity across various county offices. Their software integrates the offices of the sheriff, county attorney, district attorney, collections coordinator, court administrator, and judges.
Smith began implementing the new system in March. LGS provided training and support, including a three-to-four day training session and ongoing assistance for questions. While manually scanning and uploading older paper files into the LGS system, Smith and Assistant District Administrator/Victims Coordinator JoAnna Hadden at Refugio’s attorney office, DeWitt County Administrator Leigh Ann Harryman, and other staff members made sure that the new 2025 cases were prioritized, properly entered, and uploaded into LGS.
“Whitney on the De-Witt end and Joanna on that end (Refugio) are the book ends of the district, and they're holding it together,” Cromeens said, emphasizing the importance of their roles.
Cromeens explained the geographic logistics of the 24th Judicial District, which stretches southward from DeWitt and Goliad to Refugio, covering an approximate permanent population of 35,000 over more than 2,500 square miles.
“We, the 24th Judicial District Attorney's Office, primarily handle felony adult prosecution. The only misdemeanors we address are specialized cases, such as those involving public officials or public funds, as well as certain juvenile cases,” he said.
He provided a breakdown of the county attorneys and the cases they manage.
“Jay Condie of DeWitt, Terry Breen of Goliad, and Simon McLeod of Refugio—these three county attorneys handle misdemeanors along with the juvenile probation office.” He emphasized that the district attorney's office collaborates with the county attorneys and juvenile probation offices regularly.
“There are over a dozen different departments or agencies that we accept cases from these three counties. So, they range from state agencies, like various agencies in DPS, all the way down to just our local police,” he elaborated.
“We have a close working relationship with all the agencies in all three counties,” Smith added.
Cromeens and Smith noted that the LGS system has enhanced case management and efficiency by providing easy file access, improving case prioritization, and facilitating communication with defense attorneys and law enforcement. It offers secure remote access and multiple backups, allowing for the electronic transmission of evidence, which has significantly reduced docket times and improved court operations.
The transition began in March, with full operation expected by August or September. It has received positive feedback from defense attorneys and law enforcement.
