Sets qualifications, duties, pay rules, and practice restrictions for the Denton County criminal district attorney.
Sec. 44.161. DENTON COUNTY. (a) The criminal district attorney of Denton County must be at least 28 years old, must have been a practicing attorney in this state for at least five years, and must have been a resident of Denton County for at least three years before his election or appointment. (b) The criminal district attorney shall attend each term and session of the district and inferior courts of Denton County, except municipal courts, held for the transaction of criminal business and shall exclusively represent the state in all criminal matters before those courts. (c) The criminal district attorney shall represent Denton County in any court in which the county has pending business. This subsection does not prevent the county from retaining other legal counsel in a civil matter as it considers appropriate. (d) The criminal district attorney has all the powers, duties, and privileges in Denton County relating to criminal or civil matters involving the county or state that are conferred by law on county and district attorneys in the various counties and districts. (e) The criminal district attorney shall collect the fees, commissions, and perquisites that are provided by law for similar services rendered by a district or county attorney. (f) The Commissioners Court of Denton County may, in its discretion, supplement the compensation paid by the state to the criminal district attorney. The supplemental compensation paid by the county shall be paid from the officers' salary fund of the county if that fund is adequate. If that fund is not adequate, the commissioners court shall transfer the necessary funds from the general funds of the county to the officers' salary fund. (g) The criminal district attorney may not engage in the private practice of law, whether or not he receives compensation for that practice. (h) The criminal district attorney, for the purpose of conducting the affairs of the office, may appoint the assistant criminal district attorneys, investigators, stenographers, clerks, and other personnel that the Commissioners Court of Denton County may authorize. The salaries of the members of the staff of the criminal district attorney shall be paid in equal monthly or bimonthly installments from the officers' salary fund of the county. (i) The legislature may provide the supplemental funds to the criminal district attorney it considers necessary for supplementation of his staff. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.