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The five justice courts' uniform local rules (Gov't Code § 27.061), effective January 1, 2023: jurisdiction (civil to $20,000; residential and commercial evictions including writs of re-entry; administrative appeals — driver's-license suspension/revocation, handgun-license revocation, dangerous-dog determinations, occupational licenses; fine-only criminal cases; other matters under Gov't Code §§ 27.031–27.034); precinct organization (five precincts, each with its own clerks and public weekly docket; bench exchange when a justice is unavailable); electronic jury selection with impaneling coordinated with the district courts and CCLs; DECORUM — proper dress required (no exposed midriffs or suggestive clothing, halter/undershirt garments, excessively low-rise jeans, pants, skirts or shorts, or drug/alcohol advertisements), cell phones silent or off, with per-court supplemental rules; CIVIL — file where a defendant resides (evictions where the leased premises sit), mediation referrals at each court's discretion, prompt settings with discretionary pre-trial conferences, written jury demands with the fee paid on filing, and holiday roll-forward to the next business day (all county holidays are court holidays); CRIMINAL — file in the precinct of the alleged offense (school-attendance cases in any precinct within the school district; multi-precinct offenses in any precinct touched by the offense), first appearance at the filing court per the citation or summons, and guilty/no-contest pleas at any time except defendants under 17 and minors with alcohol violations, who must appear with a parent or guardian (standard-fine lists available from each court). Signed by the justices of the peace (Precincts 1, 2, 4, and 5 legible on the registered print).
Texas > Montgomery County > all five justice of the peace precincts (uniform county-wide justice-court rules; each court may post additional rules). Effective January 1, 2023.
Rule 1.1: "In accordance with Sec. 27.061 of the Texas Government Code, these rules are promulgated to provide a uniform system for the fair, impartial and prompt disposition of matters properly before the Justice Courts of Montgomery County." Rule 1.3: the justice courts hear "(a) Civil cases in which the amount in controversy is $20,000.00 or less. (b) Eviction cases, both residential and commercial, including writs of re-entry. (c) Administrative hearings involving appeals of suspension and revocation of drivers' licenses, revocation of concealed handgun licenses, determination of dangerous dogs and occupational driver license. (d) Criminal cases in which the punishment is a fine or a fine and sanctions. (e) All other cases permissible under Texas law, including Section 27.031-27.034 of the Texas Government Code." Rule 1.4: five precincts, "Each court has its own court clerks who are responsible for maintaining the court's docket." Rule 1.5: weekly public dockets; "In the event that the justice of the peace is unavailable, the justices may exchange benches, in order to prevent interruption in the work of the court." Rule 1.6: "The Justice Courts utilize the electronic method of selecting names of persons assigned for jury service. Jury impaneling is conducted in cooperation with the District and County Courts at Law." Rule 2.1 Decorum: "Proper dress shall be required. The following items of clothing are not allowed: Exposed midriffs or suggestive clothing; Halter style and undershirt garments; Excessively low rise jeans, pants, skirts or shorts; Advertisement on clothing for drugs or alcohol. Cell phones must be on silent mode or turned off. Additional rules may be posted by each court." Rule 3.1: "All civil cases shall be filed in the Justice Court where one or more defendants reside, except as otherwise provided by law. Eviction cases shall be filed in the Justice Court where the leased premises are located." Rule 3.4: "Either party shall be entitled to a trial by jury. The request shall be in writing and shall conform to the applicable rule. The jury fee shall be paid upon filing of the request." Rule 3.5: "When any date mentioned in these rules falls on a court holiday, the applicable date shall be the first business date following the holiday... All county holidays will be court holidays." Rule 4.1: "Justice Court cases shall be filed in the precinct where the offense is alleged to have occurred, except for cases involving school attendance, which may be filed in any precinct within the filing school district. Offenses alleged to have been committed in more than one precinct may be filed in any precinct that the offense, or any portion of the offense, is alleged to have occurred." Rule 4.2: "defendants will appear at the Justice Court in which the case is filed, on the date and location written on the citation or summons." Rule 4.3: "Defendants may enter a plea of guilty or no contest at any time, except defendants under the age of 17 and minors charged with alcohol violations who must appear with a parent or guardian. Each Justice Court maintains a list of standard fines for various offenses which may be obtained from the Court."
Reviewer note: Registered under the generic feed title 'Local Rules' — the full text identifies it as the justice courts' rules (the records-vs-rules doctrine: text adjudicates, never titles). Text-layer instrument read in full; operative provisions quoted verbatim (OCR spacing normalized). Signature page legibly carries JPs for Precincts 1, 2, 4, and 5 (Spikes, Dunn, Masden named; Pct 3's block prints the county line only). Composed benchpath-ajr2-p2.
Division XI: information forms for data processing (Rule 11.2); required action - action taken on all calendared cases and a future date always set (Rule 11.19); and pro tem judges - an attorney named as a plaintiff in a civil or small claims case may not sit as a judge pro-tem during the case or within six months following its resolution, nor one named as a defendant in two or more such cases (Rule 11.22). Rules 11.1, 11.3 to 11.5, 11.7 to 11.18, 11.20 and 11.21 are repealed, and Rule 11.6 (voluntary arbitration; see Local Rule 10.2) was repealed and renumbered.
Duval County's indigent-defense and magistration rules under the Texas Fair Defense Act (S.B. 7): who may be booked into the county jail and on what paper; arrest-case numbering; presentment to a magistrate within 48 hours (art. 15.16); the magistrate's warnings, counsel inquiry, interpreter duty, indigence determination and appointment of counsel within 24 hours of a request; the alternative appointment plan under art. 26.04(g)-(h) with annual applications, seven attorney categories (capital, first and second degree, third degree/state jail/misdemeanor, competency, appeals, post-conviction, extradition), CLE and experience standards, random rotation within each category, written acceptance within 48 hours, first contact by the end of the next working day, replacement and suspension of counsel, fee applications within five days of completing services and the compensation attachment ($500 pleas; $175/$150 hourly; $1,400 per jury-trial day; appellate caps); bail schedules by offense class with a personal bond office (fee $20 or 3%), pre-trial supervision and revocation hearings within two working days; arraignment settings and notice; repeal of conflicting rules.