Denton County district and criminal statutory county court judges must appoint and supervise judges for the criminal law magistrate court, and appointed judges must meet stated qualifications.
Sec. 54.2802. APPOINTMENT; OVERSIGHT. (a) The district court judges with jurisdiction in Denton County and the judges of the criminal statutory county courts of Denton County shall appoint one or more judges to preside over the criminal law magistrate court. An appointed judge must: (1) serve Denton County as a district court judge, a criminal statutory county court judge, an associate judge of a court with criminal jurisdiction, a magistrate, including a jail magistrate, a judge of a municipal court of record, or a justice of the peace; (2) be authorized to access criminal history records under state and federal law; (3) have completed training necessary to serve as a magistrate in Denton County, as determined by the district court judges with jurisdiction in Denton County and the judges of the criminal statutory county courts of Denton County; and (4) meet the qualifications under Section 54.2807. (b) The district court judges with jurisdiction in Denton County and the judges of the criminal statutory county courts of Denton County shall: (1) designate to oversee the criminal law magistrate court either: (A) one district court judge and one criminal statutory county court judge; or (B) a criminal law magistrate court associate judge appointed under Section 54.2805; and (2) supervise the magistrate court to ensure the magistrates appointed give preference to duties under Chapters 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, Code of Criminal Procedure. (c) The magistrates of the criminal law magistrate court shall comply with the standing orders and directives regarding criminal cases of the district court judges with jurisdiction in Denton County and the judges of the criminal statutory county courts of Denton County, including a presiding criminal judge of Denton County. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 3474), Sec. 4.006, eff. September 1, 2023. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 305 (S.B. 664), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2025.