This section sets the 344th Judicial District in Chambers County, gives the 344th District Court concurrent jurisdiction in certain cases, and allows limited court operations in an auxiliary county seat facility.
Sec. 24.490. 344TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (CHAMBERS COUNTY). (a) The 344th Judicial District is composed of Chambers County. (b) The terms of court of the 344th District Court begin on the first Mondays in June and December of each year. (c) The 344th District Court has concurrent jurisdiction over all matters of civil and criminal jurisdiction, original and appellate, in cases over which the county court has jurisdiction under the constitution and laws of this state. Matters and proceedings in the concurrent jurisdiction of the 344th District Court and the county court shall be filed in the county court, and all cases of concurrent jurisdiction may be transferred between the 344th District Court and the county court. A case may not be transferred from one court to another without the consent of the judge of the court to which it is transferred, and a case may not be transferred unless it is within the jurisdiction of the court to which it is transferred. (d) Notwithstanding Section 24.030, a district court in Chambers County may sit in a suitable facility outside the county seat if the facility is designated by the commissioners court as an auxiliary county seat, as provided by Section 292.031, Local Government Code. (e) A district court in Chambers County sitting in an auxiliary court facility designated by the commissioners court as an auxiliary county seat may hear, in all case types, the motions, arguments, nonjury trials and jury trials, and any other matters before the court within the court's jurisdiction. (f) The district clerk or the clerk's deputy serves as clerk of the court when a district court sits in a facility designated as an auxiliary county seat and may keep all necessary books, minutes, records, and papers at the facility. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.15(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 1, eff. May 25, 1989. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 607 (S.B. 643), Sec. 2, eff. June 16, 2015.