This section sets the Wichita County county court at law’s jurisdiction, filing rules, transfer powers, clerk assignments, judge pay, and jury size.
Sec. 25.2452. WICHITA COUNTY COURT AT LAW PROVISIONS. (a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, including the general jurisdiction provided for a county court at law by the Estates Code, a county court at law in Wichita County has concurrent jurisdiction with the county court in: (1) appeals from municipal courts of record in Wichita County as provided by Subchapter H, Chapter 30; (2) misdemeanor cases; and (3) probate and mental health matters. (b) All misdemeanor cases, probate and mental health matters, proceedings under the Estates Code, and appeals from municipal courts of record shall be filed in the county court at law. A county court at law may transfer a case or an appeal described by this subsection to the county court with the consent of the county judge. (c) Except as provided by Section 25.0003 and Subsection (d), a county court at law has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in: (1) family law cases and proceedings under the Family Code; (2) civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $200,000, excluding interest, exemplary damages, penalties, attorney's fees, and court costs; (3) felony cases to accept guilty pleas; and (4) appeals from the justice courts. (d) A county court at law does not have jurisdiction of: (1) a case under: (A) the Alcoholic Beverage Code; (B) the Election Code; or (C) the Tax Code; or (2) a matter over which the district court has exclusive jurisdiction. (e) On the motion of any party, a county court at law may transfer a civil case originally filed in a county court at law that exceeds the maximum amount in controversy described by Subsection (c)(2) to the district court in Wichita County, except that an announcement of ready for trial by all parties before a motion to transfer the case to the district court is filed confers original jurisdiction on the county court at law. A case that is transferred to the district court shall be completed under the same cause number and in the same manner as if the case were originally filed in the district court. (f) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(98), eff. January 1, 2012. (g) The judge of a county court at law shall be paid an annual salary that is $1,000 less than the total annual salary received by a district judge in the county. The salary shall be paid out of the county treasury by the commissioners court. The judge shall be paid in installments in the same manner as other county employees. The judge is also entitled to receive travel expenses and necessary office expenses, including administrative and clerical assistance, in the same manner as the county judge. (h) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(98), eff. January 1, 2012. (i) The district clerk of Wichita County serves as the clerk of the county courts at law in Wichita County in all civil cases except probate and mental health matters. The county clerk serves as clerk in cases involving criminal, probate, or mental health matters. (j) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3, Sec. 4.50(a)(98), eff. January 1, 2012. (k) Except as otherwise required by law, if a case is tried before a jury, the jury shall be composed of six members and may render verdicts by a five to one margin in civil cases and a unanimous verdict in criminal cases. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 2, Sec. 8.24(b), eff. Aug. 28, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 1, Sec. 15.27, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 61, 70, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 7.28, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 687, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.46, eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.50(a)(98), eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 22.029, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 2.16, eff. December 4, 2025.