Sec. 25.2223. TARRANT COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT PROVISIONS. (a) A county criminal court in Tarrant County has jurisdiction over all criminal matters and causes, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts, but does not have civil jurisdiction. The County Criminal Courts Nos. 5 and 10 of Tarrant County also have concurrent jurisdiction within the county of all appeals from criminal convictions under the laws of this state and the municipal ordinances of the municipalities located in Tarrant County that are appealed from the justice courts and municipal courts in the county. The County Criminal Courts Nos. 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Tarrant County also have concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in felony cases to conduct arraignments, conduct pretrial hearings, and accept guilty pleas.

(b) A county criminal court or its judge may issue writs of injunction and all writs necessary for the enforcement of the jurisdiction of the court. It may issue writs of habeas corpus in cases in which the offense charged is within the jurisdiction of the court or of a court of inferior jurisdiction in the county. A county criminal court or its judge may punish for contempt as prescribed by law for county courts.

(c) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(85), eff. January 1, 2012.

(d) Repealed by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991.

(e) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(85), eff. January 1, 2012.

(f) The judge of a county criminal court shall be paid an annual salary in an amount that is not less than $1,000 less than the total annual salary, including supplements and salary increases, paid any district judge in the county.

(g) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(85), eff. January 1, 2012.

(h) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(85), eff. January 1, 2012.

(i) The official court reporter of a county criminal court is entitled to the same fees and salary as a district court reporter and shall perform the same duties and take the oath of office as provided by law for district court reporters. The official court reporter for the County Criminal Court No. 1 or 3 of Tarrant County is not required to take testimony in cases in which neither a party nor the judge demands it.

(j) At least two bailiffs shall be assigned regularly to the County Criminal Court No. 1 of Tarrant County and the County Criminal Court No. 2 of Tarrant County. Except as provided by Subsection (j-2), the judges of the County Criminal Courts Nos. 1 and 2 of Tarrant County shall each appoint one officer to act as bailiff of the judge's court, and the sheriff of Tarrant County shall appoint a bailiff for each court as prescribed by law. The bailiffs serve at the pleasure of the court and shall perform the duties required by the judge of the court to which the bailiffs are assigned.

(j-1) At least two bailiffs shall be assigned regularly to the County Criminal Courts Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Tarrant County. Except as provided by Subsection (j-2), each judge shall appoint one officer to act as the bailiff of the judge's court, and the sheriff of Tarrant County shall appoint a bailiff for each court as prescribed by law. A bailiff appointed under this subsection serves at the pleasure of the court and shall perform the duties required by the judge of the court to which the bailiff is assigned.

(j-2) The judge of a county criminal court listed in Subsection (j) or (j-1) may authorize the sheriff to appoint all bailiffs in the judge's court. If the sheriff is authorized by a judge to make the judge's appointment under this subsection, the sheriff shall appoint at least two officers to act as bailiffs for the judge's court. A bailiff appointed under this subsection serves at the pleasure of the court and shall perform the duties required by the judge of the court to which the bailiff is assigned.

(k) Section 25.0007 does not apply to a county criminal court in Tarrant County.

(l) The County Criminal Court No. 5 of Tarrant County shall give preference to cases brought under Title 5, Penal Code, involving family violence as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code, and cases brought under Sections 25.07, 25.072, and 42.072, Penal Code.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 38, Sec. 2, eff. Oct. 20, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 5, Sec. 2(c), eff. March 22, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 317, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 131, Sec. 1, eff. May 16, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 7.002(n), 9.001(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (S.B. 1887), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(85), eff. January 1, 2012.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 96 (S.B. 743), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 4.11, eff. January 1, 2020.