Bexar County’s criminal district attorney must attend criminal court sessions, represent the state in those courts, represent the county where it has pending business, collect and deposit certain fees, and serves as district attorney for each district court; the commissioners court may hire special counsel and accept gifts and grants for prosecution-related purposes.
Sec. 44.115. BEXAR COUNTY. (a) The criminal district attorney of Bexar County shall attend each term and session of the district, county, and justice courts in Bexar County held for the transaction of criminal business and shall exclusively represent the state in all matters before those courts. He shall represent Bexar County in any court in which the county has pending business. He serves as the district attorney for each district court in the county. (b) The criminal district attorney has all the powers, duties, and privileges in Bexar County that are conferred by law on district and county attorneys. (c) 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 and shall deposit them in the proper county funds as provided by law. (d) The criminal district attorney does not represent the state in criminal cases before the municipal courts in Bexar County. (e) The Commissioners Court of Bexar County, acting in conjunction with and on the approval of the criminal district attorney, may employ special counsel, learned in the law, to represent the county in a condemnation or eminent domain proceeding, particularly in a case involving the acquisition of rights-of-way. The employment shall be for the time and on the terms that the commissioners court and the criminal district attorney consider necessary and proper. The employment may be terminated in the manner provided by law for the removal of an assistant, investigator, or other employee of the criminal district attorney. (f) The Commissioners Court of Bexar County may accept gifts and grants from any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, foundation, association, or governmental entity for the purpose of financing or assisting effective prosecution, crime prevention or suppression, rehabilitation of offenders, or crime victim's assistance in Bexar County. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.59(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.