This section gives Reeves County county courts at law jurisdiction over several listed civil, family, mental health, estate, and assigned matters, but bars them from felony cases, certain official-misconduct misdemeanors, contested elections, and felony habeas writs.
Sec. 25.1972. REEVES COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, and except as limited by Subsection (b), a county court at law in Reeves County has: (1) concurrent jurisdiction with the district court: (A) in disputes ancillary to probate, eminent domain, condemnation, or landlord and tenant matters relating to the adjudication and determination of land titles and trusts, whether testamentary, inter vivos, constructive, resulting, or any other class or type of trust, regardless of the amount in controversy or the remedy sought; (B) over civil forfeitures, including surety bond forfeitures without minimum or maximum limitation as to the amount in controversy or remedy sought; (C) in all actions by or against a personal representative, in all actions involving an inter vivos trust, in all actions involving a charitable trust, and in all actions involving a testamentary trust, whether the matter is appertaining to or incident to an estate; (D) in proceedings under Title 3, Family Code; and (E) in family law cases and proceedings; (2) jurisdiction in mental health matters, original or appellate, provided by law for constitutional county courts, statutory county courts, or district courts with mental health jurisdiction, including proceedings under: (A) Chapter 462, Health and Safety Code; and (B) Subtitles C and D, Title 7, Health and Safety Code; (3) jurisdiction over the collection and management of estates of minors, persons with a mental illness or intellectual disability, and deceased persons; and (4) jurisdiction in all cases assigned, transferred, or heard under Sections 74.054, 74.059, and 74.094. (b) A county court at law does not have jurisdiction of: (1) felony cases, except as otherwise provided by law; (2) misdemeanors involving official misconduct unless assigned under Sections 74.054 and 74.059; or (3) contested elections. (c) Repealed by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 70, eff.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 (d) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(78), eff. January 1, 2012. (e) A judge of a county court at law in Reeves County shall be paid an annual salary equal to the amount that is $1,000 less than the salary paid by the state to a district judge in the county. The salary shall be paid in the same manner and from the same fund as prescribed by law for the county judge. (f) A county court at law may not issue writs of habeas corpus in felony cases. (g) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at law in the cases described by Subsection (a), and the county clerk serves as clerk of the court in all other matters. (h) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(78), eff. January 1, 2012. (i) Practice in a county court at law is that prescribed by law for county courts, except that practice and procedure, rules of evidence, issuance of process and writs, and all other matters pertaining to the conduct of trials and hearings involving family law cases and proceedings are governed by this section and the laws and rules pertaining to district courts. If a family law case is tried before a jury, the jury shall be composed of 12 members. (j) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(78), eff. January 1, 2012. (k) All cases appealed from the justice courts and other courts of inferior jurisdiction in the county shall be appealed to a county court at law under the provisions governing appeals to county courts. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 50, 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(78), eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 606 (S.B. 891), Sec. 2.11, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 934 (H.B. 3774), Sec. 2.08, eff. September 1, 2021.