This section covers appointment, removal, salary, and term rules for criminal law magistrate court judges.
Sec. 54.747. JUDGE. (a) The criminal law magistrate court is presided over by one or more judges appointed by a two-thirds vote of all the district court and county court at law judges. A criminal law magistrate court judge serves for a one-year term beginning on the date of appointment. (b) To be eligible for appointment as a judge of the criminal law magistrate court, a person must meet all the requirements and qualifications to serve as a district court judge. (c) If there is more than one criminal law magistrate court judge, the council of judges may appoint one of the judges to be the presiding criminal law magistrate court judge. (d) The order appointing a judge of the criminal law magistrate court must be signed by two-thirds of the judges on the El Paso Council of Judges and shall be entered in the minutes of each district court and county court at law. The order must state the judge's name, state bar identification number, and the date the appointment takes effect. (e) The council of judges may withdraw a judge's appointment to the criminal law magistrate court by a majority vote of all the judges on the council of judges. The order must be signed by the local administrative judge and shall be entered in the minutes of each district court and county court at law. The order must state the judge's name, state bar identification number, and the date the order of withdrawal takes effect. (f) Any judge on the council of judges may withdraw that judge's consent for a judge or judges of the criminal law magistrate court to act for that judge under this subchapter. The order withdrawing consent to act must state the name of the judge who may not act, the judge's state bar identification number, and the date the withdrawal of consent takes effect. (g) A judge of the criminal law magistrate court is entitled to the salary determined by the commissioners court. The salary may not be less than the salary authorized to be paid to a family law master appointed for El Paso County. (h) Except as provided for in Subsection (i), the council of judges may only appoint the number of judges for which the commissioners court by order provides compensation in the county budget. (i) The council of judges may appoint any number of judges who agree to serve on the criminal law magistrate court as part-time or as full-time judges without compensation. Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 2, Sec. 8.32(a), eff. Aug. 28, 1989.