In Hays County, the judiciary has made strides to expedite the time it takes for defendants to reach trial. As of last week, there is reportedly only one defendant left in the Hays County jail who has been waiting over 1,000 days for their trial, down from 25 such cases in March 2023, according to data released by the county. This marks a drastic improvement from the earlier part of the year when there were seven defendants in the same situation.

While talking to Hays County officials, District Judge Tanner Neidhardt of the 483rd Court, who took office in 2023, confronted by the initial figures, expressed his shock at "how long defendants were waiting for trial." Under his tenure, considerable progress appears to have been made to ensure a more swift judicial process for those awaiting their day in court.

Judge Neidhardt was quick to spread the gratitude, noting that the results stemmed from a collective effort within the legal system. "The health of our legal system depends on the efforts of many — the courts are balancing and optimizing our dockets, the District Attorney’s Office is looking hard at these cases, the defense bar has been ready, and our clerks are keeping the system going, especially now," Neidhardt told Hays County.

Neidhardt also acknowledged the support of the Hays County Commissioners Court. They've worked on programs that have assisted in court operations, markedly improving the rate at which cases are heard. "I think all these participants are committed to continuing these efforts to reduce wait times for trial," Neidhardt said. Encouraged by this collective effort, Neidhardt assured that, "It’s the right thing to do for defendants, victims and the public. But there is more to do, and we will not let up."