This section sets the Kaufman County statutory county court’s jurisdiction, limits some matters it cannot hear, and assigns several court-administration duties to judges, clerks, the sheriff, the bailiff, and the court reporter.
Sec. 25.1312. KAUFMAN COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a statutory county court in Kaufman County has, except as limited by Subsection (b), the jurisdiction provided by the constitution and general law for district courts. (b) A statutory county court in Kaufman County does not have jurisdiction of: (1) felony cases involving capital murder; (2) suits on behalf of the state to recover penalties or escheated property; (3) misdemeanors involving official misconduct; or (4) contested elections. (b-1) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 15.03(1), eff. September 1, 2019. (c) The district clerk serves as clerk of a statutory county court except that the county clerk serves as clerk of the statutory county court in matters of mental health, probate, juvenile and criminal misdemeanor docket, and all civil matters in which the statutory county court does not have concurrent jurisdiction with the district court. (d) A jury must be composed of 12 members in: (1) civil cases in which the amount in controversy is $200,000 or more; (2) family law cases and proceedings; and (3) felony cases. (e) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(56), eff. January 1, 2012. (f) Notwithstanding Sections 74.091 and 74.0911, a district judge serves as the local administrative judge for the district and statutory county courts in Kaufman County. The judges of district courts shall elect a district judge as local administrative judge for a term of not more than two years. The local administrative judge may not be elected on the basis of rotation or seniority. (g) When administering a case for the statutory county court, the district clerk shall charge civil fees and court costs as if the case had been filed in the district court. In a case of concurrent jurisdiction, the case shall be assigned to either the district court or statutory county court in accordance with local administrative rules established by the local administrative judge. (h) The judge of the statutory county court shall appoint an official court reporter for the court and shall set the official court reporter's annual salary, subject to approval by the county commissioners court. The official court reporter of the statutory county court shall take an oath or affirmation as an officer of the court, holds office at the pleasure of the judge of the court, and shall be provided a private office in close proximity to the court. The official court reporter is entitled to all rights and benefits afforded all other county employees. (i) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(56), eff. January 1, 2012. (j) Not later than one year after the date of appointment, the bailiff of a statutory county court must have received a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The sheriff of Kaufman County shall deputize the bailiff of a statutory county court. The bailiff of a statutory county court is subject to the training and continuing education requirements of a sheriff's deputy of the county. The sheriff shall remove from office a bailiff who does not receive a peace officer license within one year of appointment as required by this subsection. (k) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(56), eff. January 1, 2012. (l) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(56), eff. January 1, 2012. (m) In matters of concurrent jurisdiction, the judge of a statutory county court and the district judge may exchange benches, transfer cases, subject to acceptance, assign each other to hear cases, and otherwise manage their respective dockets under local administrative rules. (n) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(56), eff. January 1, 2012. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 197, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 776 (H.B. 3547), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.31, eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(56), eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 93 (S.B. 686), Sec. 2.18, eff. May 18, 2013. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 2.08(a), eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 15.03(1), eff. September 1, 2019.