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Precinct 1 Justice of
the Peace
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace
Precinct 3 Justice of the
Peace
Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace
The Justice of the Peace Court is a constitutional office
whose origins date back to the early days of Texas statehood. In fact, in
some parts of Texas the Justice of the Peace was the only form of the law,
making for interesting folklore throughout the state's rich history.
The Judges (Precincts 1,2,3, & 4) are elected to a four year
term of office by the voters residing in that precinct.
The
following is a partial list of the functions that these courts oversees:
Magisterial Duties
- Determines probably cause, issues arrest
warrants, issues both adult and juvenile statutory warnings, and
conducts bail examinations for arrested person.
- Determines whether there is reasonable
probability of a judgment being rendered against a person as a result of
an accident while operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
- Conducts reviews for sufficiency and issuance
of search warrants.
- Reviews applications for emergency detention
and issues mental health and dependency warrants.
- Conducts hearings concerning the disposition of
stolen property.
- Conducts handgun license denial hearings.
- Conducts driver's license suspension hearings.
- Conducts death investigations and orders
autopsies.
- Conducts towing hearings.
- Conducts review for sufficiency and issuance of
warrants to seize cruelly treated animals.
- Conducts hearings to determine disposition of
animals.
- Conducts hearings to review dangerous dog determination.
Administrative Duties
- Performs marriage ceremonies.
- Handles and collects fees, fines and court
costs.
- Manages bank deposits.
- Prepares report for auditor and treasurer.
- Supervises employees.
- Prepares correspondence to defendants and parties to litigation as
required by statute.
Criminal
Jurisdiction
- Reviews and files citation issued and
complaints filed by local law enforcement agencies, including Constable,
Sheriff, Department of Public Safety, etc.
- Reviews requests for driving safety courses,
files complaints for failure to appear and issues warrants, conducts
show cause hearings, allows extension of time in which to complete
course, dismisses cases, or imposes judgments.
- Reviews documents in connection with charges of
no insurance, expired driver's license, expired registration, and
expired inspection.
- Undertakes efforts to satisfy judgment, issues
capias pro fines, conduct indigency hearings.
- Collects restitution.
- Failure to attend school offenses against
juveniles.
- Thwarting compulsory attendance.
Civil
Jurisdiction
- Files petitions instituting civil action within
the jurisdiction of Justice Court.
- Files petitions instituting proceedings to
enforce deed restrictions.
- Evictions from residential and commercial
properties.
- Files petitions instituting civil action within the jurisdiction of
the Small Claims Court.
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