Proceedings That May Be Referred

Sec. 54B.033. PROCEEDINGS THAT MAY BE REFERRED. (a) A judge may refer to a criminal associate judge any criminal case or matter relating to a criminal case for proceedings involving: (1) a negotiated plea of guilty or no contest and sentencing before the court; (2) a bond forfeiture, remittitur, and related proceedings; (3) a pretrial motion; (4) a writ of habeas corpus; (5) an examining trial; (6) an occupational driver's license; (7) a petition for an order of expunction under Chapter 55A, Code of Criminal Procedure; (8) an asset forfeiture hearing as provided by Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure; (9) a petition for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information or an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information that does not require a petition provided by Subchapter E-1, Chapter 411; (10) a motion to modify or revoke community supervision or to proceed with an adjudication of guilty; (11) setting conditions, modifying, revoking, and surrendering of bonds, including surety bonds; (12) specialty court proceedings; (13) a waiver of extradition; and (14) any other matter the judge considers necessary and proper. (b) A judge may refer to a criminal associate judge a civil case arising out of Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure, for any purpose authorized by that chapter, including issuing orders, accepting agreed judgments, enforcing judgments, and presiding over a case on the merits if a party has not requested a jury trial. (c) A criminal associate judge may accept a plea of guilty from a defendant charged with misdemeanor, felony, or both misdemeanor and felony offenses. (d) A criminal associate judge may select a jury. A criminal associate judge may not preside over a criminal trial on the merits, whether or not the trial is before a jury. (e) A criminal associate judge may not hear a jury trial on the merits of a bond forfeiture. (f) A judge of a designated juvenile court may refer to a criminal associate judge any proceeding over which a juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction under Title 3, Family Code, including any matter ancillary to the proceeding. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 5.03, eff. December 4, 2025.