Government Code § 53.002

Sec. 53.002. PERMISSIVE APPOINTMENTS. (a) The judges of the 34th, 86th, 130th, 142nd, 238th, 318th, 355th, and 385th district courts may each appoint a bailiff. (b) The judge of the 43rd District Court and the judge of the 415th District Court may each appoint one or more bailiffs that the judge believes are necessary for the efficient administration of the judge's court. (c) The judges of the district courts, including family district courts, having jurisdiction in El Paso County and the judges of the county courts at law in El Paso County may each appoint a person to serve the court as bailiff. A bailiff for a district court that is composed of more than one county serves the court in each county of the district. (d) The judges of the 15th, 59th, and 397th district courts and the judges of the statutory county courts in Grayson County may each appoint a bailiff. (e) The judges of the district courts in Tom Green County may each appoint a bailiff. A bailiff for a district court that is composed of more than one county may, at the discretion of the judge, serve the court in each county of the district. (f) The judges of the 12th, 106th, 229th, 258th, 278th, 381st, and 411th district courts may each appoint a bailiff. At the discretion of the judge, a bailiff may serve the court in each county of the district. (g) The judge of each district court in Tarrant County that gives preference to criminal cases and the judge of each criminal district court in Tarrant County may appoint two persons to serve as bailiffs. Notwithstanding Section 53.071 or Article 19A.301, Code of Criminal Procedure, the district judges of the courts in Tarrant County that give preference to criminal cases and the criminal district courts in Tarrant County may appoint one bailiff for each grand jury. (h) The judge of the 84th District Court may appoint a bailiff to serve the court in Hansford and Hutchinson counties. (i) The local administrative judge of the district courts in Comal County may appoint two or more bailiffs to serve the district courts in Comal County as the judge determines necessary for the efficient operation of the district courts, subject to the approval of a majority of the district judges of those courts. A majority of the district judges of those courts may remove a bailiff appointed under this subsection. The local administrative judge may not appoint more than two bailiffs under this subsection unless the funding for the additional bailiffs is approved by the commissioners court of Comal County before the appointment. A bailiff appointed under this subsection is entitled to the salary recommended by the local administrative judge, subject to the approval of the commissioners court. (j) The local administrative judge of the district courts in Hays County may appoint two or more bailiffs to serve the district courts in Hays County as the judge determines necessary for the efficient operation of the district courts, subject to the approval of a majority of the district judges of those courts. A majority of the district judges of those courts may remove a bailiff appointed under this subsection. The local administrative judge may not appoint more than two bailiffs under this subsection unless the funding for the additional bailiffs is approved by the commissioners court of Hays County before the appointment. A bailiff appointed under this subsection is entitled to the salary recommended by the local administrative judge, subject to the approval of the commissioners court. (k) The local administrative judge of the district courts in Caldwell County may appoint two or more bailiffs to serve the district courts in Caldwell County as the judge determines necessary for the efficient operation of the district courts, subject to the approval of a majority of the district judges of those courts. A majority of the district judges of those courts may remove a bailiff appointed under this subsection. The local administrative judge may not appoint more than two bailiffs under this subsection unless the funding for the additional bailiffs is approved by the commissioners court of Caldwell County before the appointment. A bailiff appointed under this subsection is entitled to the salary recommended by the local administrative judge, subject to the approval of the commissioners court. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.71(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 759, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 919, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 819, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 430, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 648, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 868, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1436, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 853, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 867, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 121, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 928, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 4 (S.B. 234), Sec. 1, eff. April 27, 2005. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 1189), Sec. 3(b), eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 211 (H.B. 632), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 890 (S.B. 2554), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 800 (H.B. 2310), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 905 (H.B. 1193), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 2.39, eff. January 1, 2021. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 7.04, eff. September 1, 2019.