Dallas County judges who prefer criminal law matters appoint and supervise the criminal district courts administrator, and the administrator and county courts administrator must report as stated. Judges also have final authority over administration, and judges are immune from damages liability for covered acts unless the listed misconduct applies.
Sec. 152.06332. DALLAS COUNTY CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS ADMINISTRATOR. (a) The criminal district courts administrator is the chief administrative officer of the criminal district courts in Dallas County. (b) The judges of the district courts in Dallas County that give preference to criminal law matters shall, on a majority vote, appoint the criminal district courts administrator. The administrator serves at the will of a majority of those judges, except that those judges may delegate the decision to terminate the administrator's appointment to the presiding judge of those judges' courts. (c) The judges of the district courts in Dallas County that give preference to criminal law matters shall, by majority vote, supervise the activities of the criminal district courts administrator, including the structure of the administrator's office and budget for that office, or those judges may delegate the supervisory duties to the presiding judge of those courts. (d) The criminal district courts administrator shall report to the Dallas County district and county courts administrator, and the district and county courts administrator shall report to the judges of the criminal district courts in Dallas County, regarding all issues related to the criminal district courts. (e) The judges of the district courts that give preference to criminal law matters in Dallas County have the final authority over decisions regarding the administration of the areas related to the criminal district courts in Dallas County and have the right to direct the district and county courts administrator to adopt and adhere to the policies adopted by the judges with regard to the criminal district courts in Dallas County. (f) A judge may not be subjected to a suit for, and is immune from liability for damages arising from, an act or omission committed while performing a duty under this section unless the act or omission is: (1) committed intentionally, wilfully, or wantonly; or (2) committed with: (A) gross negligence; or (B) conscious indifference or reckless disregard for the safety of others. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1171 (H.B. 3531), Sec. 2, eff. October 1, 2005.