The office of court administration must help presiding judges oversee associate judges, handle training and resources, run annual performance evaluations, and manage complaints.
Sec. 54A.313. SUPERVISION, TRAINING, AND EVALUATION OF ASSOCIATE JUDGES. (a) The office of court administration shall assist the presiding judges of the administrative judicial regions in: (1) monitoring associate judges' compliance with job performance standards, uniform practices adopted by the presiding judges, and federal and state laws and policies; (2) addressing the training needs and resource requirements of associate judges; (3) conducting annual performance evaluations for associate judges and other personnel appointed under this subchapter based on written personnel performance standards adopted by the presiding judges and performance information solicited from the referring courts and other relevant persons; and (4) receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints about an individual associate judge or the associate judge program under this subchapter based on a uniform process adopted by the presiding judges. (b) The office of court administration shall develop procedures and a written evaluation form to be used by the presiding judges in conducting the annual performance evaluations under Subsection (a)(3). (c) The office of court administration shall develop caseload standards for associate judges to ensure adequate staffing. (d) Each judge of a court that refers guardianship proceedings or protective services proceedings to an associate judge under this subchapter may submit to the appropriate presiding judges or the office of court administration information on the associate judge's performance during the preceding year based on a uniform process adopted by the presiding judges. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 627 (H.B. 79), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021.