Sec. 43.181. 268TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. (a) The voters of the 268th Judicial District elect a district attorney.

(b) The district attorney shall attend each term and session of the district courts in Fort Bend County and, unless otherwise provided by law, shall represent the state in all felony and misdemeanor criminal cases and matters directly relating to criminal cases in all the courts of the county, including any asset forfeitures related to criminal activities, and bond forfeiture proceedings through judgment other than collection of a final judgment on a bond forfeiture.

(c) The district attorney has the powers, duties, and privileges in Fort Bend County relating to family law and juvenile matters, except as provided by Subsection (f-1), protective orders under Title 4, Family Code, orders under Chapter 159, Family Code, and proceedings under Title 3, Family Code.

(d) The district attorney has no power, duty, or privilege in Fort Bend County relating to a quo warranto or removal from office proceeding, except that if the county attorney fails or refuses to act in a removal case, the district attorney has the power, duty, and privilege to bring a removal from office action or a quo warranto proceeding.

(e) Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (g), the district attorney has no power, duty, or privilege to represent this state, Fort Bend County, or the officials of Fort Bend County in any civil matter pending before any court.

(f) Except as provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure, the district attorney has no power, duty, or privilege in Fort Bend County relating to a civil commitment matter under Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code, for and on behalf of the state.

(f-1) The district attorney has no power, duty, or privilege in Fort Bend County relating to a matter involving children's protective services.

(g) At the request of the county attorney, the district attorney may assist the county attorney in civil matters in Fort Bend County.

(h) The district attorney shall, with the approval of the commissioners court, appoint the assistant district attorneys and other assistants necessary to the proper performance of the district attorney's duties. The commissioners court shall set the salary of an assistant to the district attorney.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1099, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1991. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 14, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 7.30, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 659 (H.B. 3263), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.