This section sets out how the 23rd Judicial District is organized and how cases, dockets, and court records are handled in Matagorda and Wharton counties.
Sec. 24.124. 23RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (MATAGORDA AND WHARTON COUNTIES). (a) The 23rd Judicial District is composed of Matagorda and Wharton counties. (b) The terms of the 23rd District Court begin: (1) in Matagorda County on the first Mondays in June and December, and the terms are designated the June-November and December-May terms; and (2) in Wharton County on the first Mondays in July and January, and the terms are designated the July-December and January-June terms. (c) There is one general docket for the 23rd and 130th district courts in Matagorda County. All suits and proceedings within the jurisdiction of the courts in Matagorda County shall be addressed to the district court of Matagorda County. All citations, notices, restraining orders, and other process issued in Matagorda County by the clerk or judges of the courts are returnable to the district court of Matagorda County without reference to the court number. On return of the process the judge of either court may preside over the hearing or trial. The judges of the 23rd and 130th district courts in Matagorda County may hear and dispose of any matter on the courts' general docket without transferring the matter. (d) The Matagorda County district clerk shall keep one set of minutes in which the clerk shall record all judgments and orders of the 23rd and 130th district courts in Matagorda County. Each of the judges of the 23rd and 130th district courts in Matagorda County shall sign the minutes of each term of those courts not later than the 30th day after the end of each term, shall sign the minutes at the end of each column of the minutes, and shall sign the minutes of the proceedings that were held before him. (e) Each of the judges of the 23rd and 130th district courts may take a vacation and not attend court for six weeks in each year. The judges by agreement between themselves shall take their vacations alternately so that there are at all times at least one judge in his judicial district. (f) There is one general docket for the 23rd and 329th district courts in Wharton County. All suits and proceedings within the jurisdiction of the courts in Wharton County shall be addressed to the district court of Wharton County. All citations, notices, restraining orders, and other process issued in Wharton County by the clerk or judges of the courts are returnable to the district court of Wharton County without reference to the court number. On return of the process the judge of either court may preside over the hearing or trial. The judges of the 23rd and 329th district courts in Wharton County may hear and dispose of any matter on the courts' general docket, both civil and criminal, without transferring the matter. (g) The Wharton County district clerk shall keep one set of minutes in which the clerk shall record all judgments and orders of the 23rd and 329th district courts in Wharton County. Each of the judges of the 23rd and 329th district courts in Wharton County shall sign the minutes of each term of those courts not later than the 30th day after the end of each term, shall sign the minutes at the end of each column of the minutes, and shall sign the minutes of the proceedings that were held before him. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 196, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 1.02(a), eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 1.02(b), eff. September 1, 2019.