Sec. 22A.002. SPECIAL THREE-JUDGE DISTRICT COURT. (a) On receipt of a petition under Section 22A.001, the chief justice shall order a special three-judge district court to convene and shall appoint three persons to serve on the court as follows:

(1) the district judge of the judicial district to which the original case was assigned;

(2) one district judge of a judicial district other than a judicial district in the same county as the judicial district to which the original case was assigned; and

(3) one justice of a court of appeals other than:

(A) the court of appeals in the court of appeals district in which the original case was assigned; or

(B) a court of appeals district in which the district judge appointed under Subdivision (2) sits.

(b) A judge or justice appointed under Subsection (a)(2) or (3) must have been elected to that office and may not be serving an appointed term of office.

(c) A special three-judge district court convened under this section shall conduct all hearings in the district court to which the original case was assigned and may use the courtroom, other facilities, and administrative support of the district court.

(d) The comptroller shall pay from funds appropriated to the comptroller's judiciary section the travel expenses and other incidental costs related to convening a special three-judge district court under this chapter.

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 186 (S.B. 455), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 9.01(a), eff. September 1, 2019.