Misdemeanor Trial Division
2100 Bloomdale Road, Ste. 200
McKinney, Texas 75071
The Misdemeanor Trial Division of the Collin County Criminal District Attorney’s Office is charged with the prosecution of all Class A and Class B misdemeanor offenses filed within Collin County. Misdemeanor prosecutors in Collin County aggressively prosecute cases with a particular emphasis on Driving While Intoxicated cases. Collin County has taken a progressive approach toward prosecuting DWI cases using blood search warrants in cases where defendants refuse to provide a breath or blood specimen.
Newly elected Criminal District Attorney Greg Willis instituted a Felony Training Program that allows misdemeanor-level attorneys to cross-train in the felony district courts, Appellate Division, and Grand Jury/Intake Division. All attorneys are required to undergo this type of training before being promoted to misdemeanor court chief.
There are six county courts at law in Collin County with each court disposing of approximately 1,500 cases per year. There were 243 cases tried in the misdemeanor courts in 2010. There are two prosecutors assigned to each court, along with an investigator and legal secretarial support.
The most common Class A misdemeanor offenses include Burglary of a Motor Vehicle, Theft over $500 but less than $1,500, Assault (not involving serious bodily injury or a deadly weapon), and DWI 2nd (allegation includes a prior conviction for DWI). Class A misdemeanor offenses are punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
The most common Class B misdemeanor offenses include DWI, Terroristic Threat, Criminal Mischief over $50 but less than $500, Criminal Trespass, and Theft over $50 but less than $500. Class B misdemeanor offenses are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Jane Roden, Chief of the Misdemeanor Division, graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1981 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. After working for four years, she attended Texas Tech University School of Law, graduating in 1988. While in law school, she received American Jurisprudence Awards in Constitutional Criminal Procedure and Antitrust.
Prior to her employment with the Collin County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Roden was employed by Dallas County for twenty-one years. Most recently, she served nine years as the judge of County Criminal Court No. 8. During her tenure, she presided over approximately 350 jury trials, and in the 2009 Dallas Bar Judicial Evaluation Poll, she was the highest rated criminal court judge in Dallas County, with an 80 percent “Excellent Rating” in overall performance. From 1996 to 2001, she served as the Chief Public Defender for Dallas County. She was appointed by the Dallas County Commissioners Court based on the recommendation of a ten-person, bi-partisan panel. She managed seventy-five attorneys, investigators, and support staff responsible for representing indigent defendants in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases and juvenile and family law matters. From 1989 to 1996, she served as a Dallas County Assistant District Attorney under Judge John Vance, trying more than 175 jury and non-jury trials. She prosecuted all levels of felony offenses and possesses extensive trial experience in the felony drug courts, where she served as Assistant Chief. Her last position with the Dallas County Criminal District Attorney’s Office was Assistant Chief of the Misdemeanor Division, where she was responsible for teaching, training, and supervising thirty-three entry-level attorneys in court operations, trial preparation, and trial skills.
Ms. Roden is a member of a number of professional organizations and has been a guest lecturer for the Texas Center for the Judiciary, Southern Methodist University Criminal Clinic Orientation Program, Dallas County Sheriff’s Academy, and the Dallas Police Department.
Jane Roden - Ext. 3693; jroden@co.collin.tx.us
