Gregg County county courts at law have district-court-type jurisdiction except in capital felony cases, and the section also sets judge pay, staffing, and jury rules.
Sec. 25.0942. GREGG COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a county court of law in Gregg County has, concurrent with the district court, the jurisdiction provided by the constitution and general law for district courts, except that the county court at law does not have jurisdiction in capital felony cases. (b) Repealed by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991. (c) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(39), eff. January 1, 2012. (d) The judge of a county court at law shall be paid an annual salary that is not less than $1,000 less than the total annual salary received by a district judge in the county. The salary may not be more than the total annual salary received by a district judge in the county. The salary may be paid in equal monthly installments. (e) The judge of a county court at law is entitled to travel expenses and necessary office expenses, including administrative and clerical assistance, in the same manner as the county judge. (f) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(39), eff. January 1, 2012. (g) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(39), eff. January 1, 2012. (h) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law in cases enumerated in Subsection (a)(2), and the county clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law in all other cases. (i) The judge of a county court at law, with the commissioners court's consent, may employ a secretary. The commissioners court shall set the secretary's salary. (j) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(39), eff. January 1, 2012. (k) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(39), eff. January 1, 2012. (l) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a jury in a county court at law shall be composed of six members, unless the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law requires a 12-member jury. Failure to object before a six-member jury is seated and sworn constitutes a waiver of a 12-member jury. In matters in which the constitution or other law does not require a 12-member jury and the county court at law has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court, the jury shall be composed of 12 members if a party to the suit requests a 12-member jury. In a civil case tried in a county court at law, the parties may, by mutual agreement, agree to try the case with any number of jurors and have a verdict rendered and returned by the vote of any number of those jurors that is less than the total number of jurors. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 423, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 689, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1348 (S.B. 2016), Sec. 1, eff. October 1, 2007. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(39), eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 696 (S.B. 2342), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2020.