Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 54B.005. TERMINATION OF SERVICES. (a) An associate judge serves at the will of the judge of the 229th District Court. (b) This section does not apply to an associate judge appointed under Chapter 54A of this code or Section 201.001, Family Code. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg.…

Sec. 54B.006. REFERRAL OF CASE. (a) The appointing judge may refer to an associate judge any aspect of a civil or criminal case involving a matter over which the referring court has jurisdiction in Duval County. (b) After notice to all parties of the time and place of hearing, an…

Sec. 54B.007. ORDER OF REFERRAL. (a) To refer cases to an associate judge, the referring court must issue an order of referral. (b) The order of referral may limit the power or duties of an associate judge. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 3474), Sec. 5.007, eff…

Sec. 54B.008. POWERS. Except as limited by an order of referral, an associate judge may: (1) conduct a hearing; (2) hear evidence; (3) compel production of relevant evidence; (4) rule on admissibility of evidence; (5) issue summons for the appearance of witnesses; (6) examine wit…

Sec. 54B.009. ATTENDANCE OF BAILIFF. A bailiff shall attend a hearing held by an associate judge if directed by the referring court. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 3474), Sec. 5.007, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 54B.010. WITNESS. (a) A witness appearing before an associate judge is subject to the penalties for perjury provided by law. (b) A referring court may issue attachment against and may fine or imprison a witness whose failure to appear before an associate judge after being su…

Sec. 54B.011. REPORT TRANSMITTED TO COURT; NOTICE. (a) At the conclusion of any hearing conducted by an associate judge and on the preparation of an associate judge's report, the associate judge shall transmit to the referring court: (1) all papers relating to the case; and (2) t…

Sec. 54B.012. NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL. An associate judge shall give all parties notice of the right of appeal to the judge of the referring court. The notice may be given: (1) at the hearing; (2) by posting the notice inside or outside the courtroom of the referring court; or …

Sec. 54B.013. EFFECT OF ASSOCIATE JUDGE'S REPORT PENDING APPEAL. Pending appeal of the associate judge's report to the referring court, the associate judge's findings, conclusions, and recommendations are in full force and effect and are enforceable as an order of the referring c…

Sec. 54B.014. JUDICIAL ACTION ON ASSOCIATE JUDGE'S REPORT. After the associate judge's report is filed, and unless the parties have filed a written notice of appeal to the referring court, the referring court may: (1) adopt, approve, or reject the associate judge's report; (2) he…

Sec. 54B.015. DECREE OR ORDER OF COURT. If an appeal to the referring court is not filed or the right to an appeal to the referring court is waived, the associate judge's findings, conclusions, and recommendations become the decree or order of the referring court only on the refe…

Sec. 54B.016. APPEAL TO REFERRING COURT. (a) Any party is entitled to a hearing by the judge of the referring court if, not later than three days, computed in the manner provided by Rule 4, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, after the date the associate judge gives the notice requir…

Sec. 54B.017. APPELLATE REVIEW. (a) Failure to appeal to the referring court, by waiver or otherwise, on the approval by the referring court of an associate judge's report does not deprive any party of the right to appeal to or request other relief from a court of appeals or the …

Sec. 54B.018. JURY TRIAL DEMANDED. If a jury trial is demanded and a jury fee paid in a trial on the merits, the associate judge shall refer any matters requiring a jury back to the referring court for a full trial before the court and jury. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., C…

Sec. 54B.019. INAPPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER TO MASTERS APPOINTED UNDER RULE 171. Masters appointed by the referring court under Rule 171, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, have all the duties and powers set forth in the order of appointment and are not governed by this subchapter. …

Sec. 54B.020. IMMUNITY. An associate judge appointed under this subchapter has the judicial immunity of a district judge. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 861 (H.B. 3474), Sec. 5.007, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 54B.021. COURT REPORTER. (a) A court reporter is not required during a hearing held by an associate judge appointed under this subchapter. (b) A party, the associate judge, or the referring court may provide for a court reporter during the hearing. The record may be preserve…

Sec. 54B.031. APPOINTMENT. (a) A judge of the 51st, 119th, 340th, or 391st district court may appoint a full-time or part-time criminal associate judge to perform the duties authorized by this subchapter if the commissioners court of the county in which the court has jurisdiction…

Sec. 54B.032. APPLICABILITY. Except as provided by Section 54B.033, Subchapter A, Chapter 54A applies to a criminal associate judge appointed under this subchapter. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 5.03, eff. December 4, 2025.

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 forfeit…