Text of section effective on January 01, 2021

Sec. 25.0382. CHAMBERS COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Chambers County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in:

(1) arraignments, pleas, and pretrial motions for felony cases; and

(2) family law cases and proceedings.

(b) In matters of concurrent jurisdiction, a judge of a county court at law and a judge of a district court in Chambers County may transfer cases between the courts in the same manner that judges of district courts may transfer cases under Section 24.003.

(c) The judge of a county court at law shall be paid an annual salary in an amount at least equal to the amount that is $1,000 less than the total annual salary, including supplements, received by a district judge in the county. The salary shall be paid out of the county treasury on order of the commissioners court.

(d) The judge of a county court at law is entitled to travel expenses and necessary office expenses, including administrative and clerical help, in the same manner as a district judge in the county.

(e) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law in matters of concurrent jurisdiction with the district court other than misdemeanor cases and probate matters and proceedings. The county clerk serves as clerk for all other cases. Each clerk shall establish a separate docket for a county court at law. The commissioners court may employ as many deputy sheriffs and bailiffs as are necessary to serve the court.

(f) If a case or proceeding in which a county court at law has concurrent jurisdiction with a district court is tried before a jury, the jury shall be composed of 12 members. In all other cases, the jury shall be composed of six members.

(g) The judge of a county court at law may, instead of appointing an official court reporter, contract for the services of a court reporter under guidelines established by the commissioners court.

(h) The laws governing the drawing, selection, service, and pay of jurors for county courts apply to a county court at law. Jurors regularly impaneled for a week by the district court may, on a request of a judge of the county court at law, be made available and shall serve for the week in a county court at law.

(i) A county court at law has the same terms of court as a district court in Chambers County.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 2.02(a), eff. January 1, 2021.