Dallas County county criminal courts have specific jurisdiction and related powers; one court must prioritize designated cases, judges must be paid at least a set amount below a district judge’s salary, certain reporters have a fee-and-salary right, and some subsection rules were repealed.
Sec. 25.0593. DALLAS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT PROVISIONS. (a) A county criminal court in Dallas County has the criminal jurisdiction, original and appellate, provided by the constitution and law for county courts and concurrent jurisdiction with county courts at law for Dallas County to hear appeals of the suspension of driver's licenses and original proceedings regarding occupational driver's licenses. (b) The County Criminal Court No. 11 of Dallas County, Texas, shall give preference to cases designated by an order signed by a majority of the judges of the county criminal courts of Dallas County. (c) A judge of a county criminal court shall be paid an annual salary that is not less than $1,000 less than the total annual salary, including supplements, received by a district judge in the county. The salary shall be paid out of the county treasury by the commissioners court. (d) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(26), eff. January 1, 2012. (e) A county criminal court or its judge may issue writs of habeas corpus and grant injunctions for the enforcement of the penal laws in cases in which the offense charged is within the jurisdiction of the court or any court or tribunal of inferior jurisdiction. A county criminal court or its judge may punish for contempt as prescribed by general law. (f) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(26), eff. January 1, 2012. (g) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(26), eff. January 1, 2012. (h) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(26), eff. January 1, 2012. (i) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(26), eff. January 1, 2012. (j) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(26), eff. January 1, 2012. (k) The official court reporter of a county criminal court is not required to take testimony in a case unless the judge or a party demands that testimony be taken. (l) The official court reporter of County Criminal Court No. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 of Dallas County, Texas, is entitled to receive the same fees and salary as a district court reporter. (m) Sections 25.0003(a) and (c) do not apply to a county criminal court in Dallas County. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 5, Sec. 2(a), eff. March 22, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 186, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1315, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(26), eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 4.08, eff. January 1, 2020.