Orange County county courts at law have concurrent jurisdiction in certain family and spouse/parent-child disputes, and the section also sets salary, clerk, jury, service, and appeal rules.
Sec. 25.1832. ORANGE 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 Orange County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in: (1) family law cases and proceedings; and (2) cases and proceedings involving justiciable controversies and differences between spouses, between parents, between parent and child, or between any of these and third persons. (b) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(72), eff. January 1, 2012. (c) Repealed by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991. (d) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(72), eff. January 1, 2012. (e) The judge of a county court at law shall be paid an annual salary in an amount that is at least the amount the judge of the County Court at Law of Orange County was paid June 15, 1971, but not more than the amount paid a district judge by the state. The salary shall be paid out of the county treasury on order of the commissioners court. (f) If the judge of a county court at law is disqualified, ill, or for any reason unable to hold court on any matters pending in the county court at law, the fact shall be brought to the attention of a district judge in the county by any attorney, and the district judge shall dispose of the matters requiring attention in the district courts of the county. If a special judge is necessary, he may be selected in the manner provided by law for the selection of a special district court judge. (g) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law in matters of concurrent jurisdiction with the district court; the county clerk serves as clerk of the court in all other matters. The commissioners court may employ as many additional assistant county attorneys, deputy sheriffs, and clerks as are necessary to serve a county court at law. (h) The probation department, welfare agencies, sheriff, constables, and other law enforcement agencies of the state, county, and city shall furnish a county court at law with services in the line of their respective duties as are required by a county court at law. All sheriffs and constables within the state shall render the same services with reference to process and writs from the district court, county court, and probate court. (i) Except as otherwise required by law, a jury in a county court at law is composed of six members. (j) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(72), eff. January 1, 2012. (k) Appeals in all cases from judgments and orders of the court shall be to the court of appeals as provided by law for appeals from district and county courts. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 44, 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 377, Sec. 4(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(72), eff. January 1, 2012.