Rules of Administration for the Justice of the Peace Courts… — Culberson County, TX · BenchPath

Rules of Administration for the Justice of the Peace Courts — Culberson County

High confidence· verified September 12, 2026Local RulesRules of Administration for the Justice of the Peace Courts within Culberson County, Texas, effective January 1, 2023; signed January 6, 2023 by the four Culberson County Justices of the Peace (Rita H. Carrasco Pct. 1, Julie Balcazar Pct. 2, Michael Davis Pct. 3, Roxann Cabezuela Pct. 4). TOPICs registration 938 (Culberson County, Standing Orders).

Summary

The Culberson County Justices of the Peace local rules of administration (effective January 1, 2023, adopted under Tex. Gov’t Code 27.061): hours and places for holding court; the justice courts’ jurisdiction and duties; disposition and dismissal of civil cases; transfer of civil and criminal cases among precincts; exchange of benches; inability-to-pay procedures; fair venue change; continuances; quarterly judicial meetings; and each court’s authority to adopt additional non-conflicting rules.

Applies to

Texas > Sixth Administrative Judicial Region > Culberson County > the Justice of the Peace Courts (Precincts 1-4). Registered under Culberson County (TOPICs doc 938).

Requirement

CULBERSON COUNTY JUSTICE COURTS LOCAL RULES RULES OF ADMINISTRATION Culberson County Justices of the Peace Effective Date: January 1, 2023 Subchapter C, Chapter 27, Government Code, Section 27.061. RULES OF ADMINISTRATION. The justices of the peace in each county shall, by majority vote, adopt local rules of administration. These rules shall be adopted and become effective after approval as required by a majority of the justice of the peace in Culberson County, Texas. The rules are promulgated to provide a uniform system for the fair, impartial, and prompt dispositions of matter before the justice courts in Culberson County, Texas. RULES OF ADMINISTRATION FOR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS WITHIN CULBERSON COUNTY, TEXAS WHEREAS, there are four justice of the peace courts within Culberson County, Texas; and WHEREAS, rules of administration and uniform rules of practice and procedure are necessary for the efficient and effective administration of justice; NOW, THEREFORE, the following rules of administration and procedure are adopted by the justice of the peace courts of Culberson County, Texas and may be changed by majority vote at any appropriately called meeting. RULES OF ADMINISTRATION 1. HOURS AND PLACES FOR HOLDING COURT: 1.1 Court shall be held at such times as may be determined expedient by the justice of the peace of each court. 1.2 Court shall be held at a courtroom authorized by the Culberson County Commissioners Court or in Culberson County, Texas in each justice of the peace designated court or in a location deemed necessary by the justice of the peace to carry out the responsibilities of the court. 2. Jurisdiction/Duties of The Justice Courts: • Civil cases (Small Claims/ Debt Claims) in which the amount in controversy is $20,000.00 or less. • Eviction cases, both residential and commercial, including writs of reentry. • Repair and Remedy $10,000.00 or less. • Administrative hearings involving revocation of driver's licenses, occupational license, animal hearings, etc. • Criminal offenses which are fine only, both traffic and Class C misdemeanors. • Peace Bonds • Mental Health Cases • Juvenile Cases • School Attendance Cases • Inquests • Magistration • Weddings 2.1 All justice court civil cases shall be filed in accordance with the Part V of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Practice in Justice Courts; Small Claims Cases, Debt Claim Cases, Repair and Remedy Cases and Eviction Cases. 3. DISPOSITION OF CIVIL CASES: 3.1. Each justice of the peace should set the docket to ensure civil jury cases are concluded within eighteen (18) months from appearance date, and civil non-jury cases are concluded within twelve (12) months from appearance date, subject to a continuance or pass. 4. DISMISSAL CIVIL DOCKET: 4.1. At least once a year, each Court should set appropriate cases on a dismissal docket that have not had any action in the previous 365 days. 4.2 TRANSFER OF CASES AMONG COURTS: 4.2.1 TRANSFER OF CIVIL CASES: 4.2.2. In accordance with Section 15.0821 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, regarding "Administrative Rules for Transfer," the justices of the peace in each county shall, by majority vote, adopt local rules of administration regarding the transfer of a pending case from one precinct to a different precinct. 4.2.3 Any judge of a justice of the peace court in Culberson County, Texas may act as the judge of any other justice of the peace court in Culberson County, Texas. 4.2.4 The transfer of cases between justice of the peace courts of Culberson County, Texas may be done by written order upon consent of the judges of those courts participating in the transfer. 4.3 TRANSFER OF CRIMINAL CASES: 4.3.1 Pursuant to Article 4.12(e) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the justices of the peace in each county shall, by majority vote, adopt local rules of administration regarding the transfer of a pending misdemeanor case from one precinct to a different precinct. 4.3.2 Any judge of a justice of the peace court in Culberson County, Texas may act as the judge of any other justice of the peace court in Culberson County, Texas. 4.3.3 The transfer of cases between justice of the peace courts of Culberson County, Texas may be done by written order upon consent of the judges of those courts participating in the transfer. 5 EXCHANGE OF BENCHES: 5.1 In accordance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 502(f), upon agreement, justices of the peace may exchange benches to hold court and administer justice. 5.2 The docket of each case heard by the visiting judge will reflect the visiting judge's name. 5.3 The judge requesting the exchange shall initiate the transfer order and ensure it is signed by both judges prior to the adjudication of any cases. 6 INABILITY TO PAY: 6.1 The Justices of the Peace will use the from provided the Justice Court Training Center and the form required by the Texas Supreme Court and as described in the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 502.3, 506.1(d), 510.9(c). 7 FAIR VENUE CHANGE: 7.1 Pursuant to Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 502.4(e), if a party believes it cannot get a fair trial and provides the required documentation to seek a fair venue change, the judge receiving the order will follow the requirements in this rule to secure the appropriate remedy. 8 Postponing Trial/Continuances 8.1 Requests for postponements (continuances) must be submitted in writing to the court at least three (3) business days preceding the date of the trail or hearing 9 JUDICIAL MEETINGS: 9.1 The justices of the peace will meet quarterly at 11:30 a.m. on the second Friday of the following months: February, May, August, November or at such other time and location designated by majority vote of the four (4) justices of the peace. The failure to conduct such quarterly meetings shall not impair the Rules of Administration set out herein or negate any of the Rules of Administration. 10 EACH COURT MAY ADOPT SUCH OTHER RULES NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THESE RULES OF ADMINISTRATION, CULBERSON COUNTY POLICY, STATE LAWS, OR FEDERAL LAWS AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE JUDGE OF THAT COURT FOR THE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. 10.1 These rules shall be reviewed and approved by majority vote of the justices of the peace in Culberson County, Texas in January of the year beginning a new four (4) year term of office. 10.2 These rules do not supersede statutory requirements, and all justices of the peace shall follow statutory laws as well as the Code of Judicial Conduct. Signed and Agreed to this 6th day of January, 2023, by: __________________________________ [signature] Hon. Rita H. Carrasco, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 __________________________________ [signature] Hon. Julie Balcazar, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 __________________________________ [signature] Hon. Michael Davis, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 __________________________________ [signature] Hon. Roxann Cabezuela, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4

Source of truth

CULBERSON COUNTY JUSTICE COURTS LOCAL RULES RULES OF ADMINISTRATION Culberson County Justices of the Peace Effective Date: January 1, 2023 Subchapter C, Chapter 27, Government Code, Section 27.061. RULES OF ADMINISTRATION. The justices of the peace in each county shall, by majority vote, adopt local rules of administration. These rules shall be adopted and become effective after approval as required by a majority of the justice of the peace in Culberson County, Texas. The rules are promulgated t

Official source: TOPICs — Texas local rules registry (topics.txcourts.gov)
Source health: Healthy · checked September 24, 2026
Effective date: January 1, 2023
Last verified: September 12, 2026benchpath-tx-ajr6-p2-2026-09-12

Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-12 (AJR-6 Sixth Region build) from BenchPath custody registered/938.pdf (application/pdf, 1584301 bytes, sha256 7a9a23dc9276ac7460733b9a4a9315a59bad23b31922f1889d1eca9b51f6f439; 5 pages) — the TOPICs-registered document. Transcribed in full from the rendered pages (image-only, no usable text layer); signature block shown as [signature]. Source typos kept (e.g. “the from provided”, “trail”). The Culberson County justice-court rules of administration.

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