My Hometown Lawyers Directory
Welcome to myhometownlawyers.com (guest)
  • Find a Lawyer
  • DUI Lawyers
  • Divorce Lawyers
    • Divorce FAQ
    • Divorce Lawyers 75205
    • Divorce Lawyers 75214
    • Divorce Lawyers 77005
    • Divorce Lawyers 78746
  • Defense Lawyers
  • Injury Lawyers
  • Legal Resources
  • Blog
  • DUI Lawyers 77005
  • Business Lawyers 75230
  • Defense Lawyers 20854
  • Defense Lawyers 60654

Texas Justice of the Peace Courts Judges

2/23/2013

 
Under Texas law, justices of the peace are not required to be lawyers. Those justices of the peace who are lawyers may continue practicing while serving in this office, although justices in heavily populated counties are discouraged from practicing law. Justices of the peace are elected for four-year terms by the voters of the precinct where they preside. 

In a civil case, if the justice of the peace is disqualified or absent from the precinct  parties to a lawsuit may agree to a substitute justice of the peace. If the parties fail to agree on a substitue, the county judge may appoint a qualified substitute. A justice of the peace performs a number of functions in addition to his primary role of presiding over the trial of cases. Each justice of the peace is a notary public and has additional power to administer oaths and to attest to the legitimacy of signatures on legal documents.

As do all Texas judges, a justice of the peace has the power to perform marriages and, where there is no county medical examiner, to act as a coroner. In his or her roe as a coroner, a justice of the peace may be called upon to inquire into the details of any death that occurs under suspicious circumstances within the precinct.

Justices of the peace may issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to require that vital witnesses and evidence be brought before them. A subpoena is a legal document that requires a witness to appear in court. Justice of the peace courts may issue writs of attachment, garnishment and sequestration to gain physical control of property involved in cases before the court.

Justice of the peace, as well as municipal judges, have no equitable powers and cannot issue injunctions. They do, however, have authority to consider equitable factors in arriving at just verdicts.

Comments are closed.

    legal image

    Lawyers Spotlight

    We help you find local lawyers in your hometown.



    Archives

    October 2020
    June 2019
    April 2019
    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    July 2014
    February 2014
    October 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Popular Searches

    All
    Texas Lawyers

    RSS Feed



Recent Searches and Popular Links:
Lawyer Blog | Articles | Divorce | Injury | Defense | Best Lawyer Voting |  Map |
Legal Stories | Contact |  Common Law Marriage |  Real Estate Law |
search box

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is not intended to provide endorsement, warranty, or guarantee of any individual lawyer or law firm. This site is for advertisement purposes only. Errors may exist. Your access to and use of this web site is subject to additional terms.