This section gives a Liberty County county court at law concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in family law cases, sets some judge and reporter rules, and lets a special judge act when the regular judge is unavailable.
Sec. 25.1482. LIBERTY COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Liberty County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in family law cases and proceedings. (b) This section does not affect the right of appeal to a county court at law from a justice court in cases in which the right of appeal to the county court exists by law. (c) Repealed by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991. (d) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(61), eff. January 1, 2012. (e) A bond is not required of a judge of a county court at law. (f) The official court reporter of a county court at law is entitled to receive the same compensation, fees, and allowances as the reporters of the district courts in Liberty County. (g) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(61), eff. January 1, 2012. (h) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(61), eff. January 1, 2012. (i) If the regular judge of the county court at law is absent, disabled, or disqualified from presiding, the presiding judge of the administrative judicial region in which the county is located may appoint a retired district judge or a person licensed to practice law in this state to sit as a special judge. (j) A special judge must have the same qualifications as the regular judge, except that the only residency requirement for a person who is a retired judge is that the retired judge must reside in the administrative judicial region. A retired judge must have voluntarily retired from office and have certified his willingness to serve. (k) A special judge must take the oath of office required by law for the regular judge and has all the power and jurisdiction of the court and of the regular judge for whom he is sitting. A special judge may sign orders, judgments, decrees, or other process of any kind as "Judge Presiding" when acting for the regular judge. (l) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(61), eff. January 1, 2012. (m) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(61), eff. January 1, 2012. (n) Sections 25.0006(b) and 25.0008 do not apply to a county court at law in Liberty County. (o) A judge of a county court at law may provide that any criminal proceeding in the county court at law be recorded by a good quality electronic recording device instead of by a court reporter, unless the defendant requests that a court reporter be present upon written motion filed with the court not later than 10 days prior to trial. If a recording device is used, the court reporter need not be present at the proceeding to certify the statement of facts. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 2, Sec. 8.44(5), eff. Aug. 28, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 1, Sec. 15.11, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 35, 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1059, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(61), eff. January 1, 2012.