This section sets rules for a Grimes County court at law, including jurisdiction, salary, jury size, clerks, and several court administration powers and limits.
Sec. 25.0952. GRIMES 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 Grimes County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in family law cases and proceedings. (b) The judge of the county court at law shall be paid an annual salary set by the commissioners court in an amount that is at least equal to the amount that is $1,000 less than the total annual salary, including contributions and supplements, received by a district judge in the county. The salary shall be paid by the county treasurer by order of the commissioners court. (c) The judge of the county court at law is entitled to travel expenses and necessary office expenses, including administrative and clerical assistance, in the same manner as the district judge. (d) The judge of a county court at law may not engage in the private practice of law. (e) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law for family cases and proceedings, and the county clerk serves as clerk for all other cases. 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 Grimes County. Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 912 (S.B. 1329), Sec. 3.02(a), eff. October 1, 2017.