Sec. 54.735. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The criminal law magistrate court or a judge of the criminal law magistrate court may issue writs of injunction and all other writs necessary for the enforcement of the jurisdiction of the court and may issue misdemeanor writs of habeas corpus in cases in which the offense charged is within the jurisdiction of the court or of any other court of inferior jurisdiction in the county. The court and the judge may punish for contempt as provided by law for district courts. A judge of the criminal law magistrate court has all other powers, duties, immunities, and privileges provided by law for:
(1) justices of the peace when acting in a Class C misdemeanor case;
(2) county court judges when acting in a Class A or Class B misdemeanor case; and
(3) district court judges when acting in a felony case.
(b) A judge of the criminal law magistrate court may hold an indigency hearing and a capias pro fine hearing. When acting as the judge who issued the capias pro fine, a judge of the criminal law magistrate court may make all findings of fact and conclusions of law required of the judge who issued the capias pro fine. In conducting a hearing under this subsection, the judge of the criminal law magistrate court is empowered to make all findings of fact and conclusions of law and to issue all orders necessary to properly dispose of the capias pro fine or indigency hearing in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure applicable to a misdemeanor or felony case of the same type and level.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 2, Sec. 8.32(a), eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1182 (S.B. 1139), Sec. 6.01(c), eff. September 1, 2015.
Structure Texas Statutes
Subtitle D - Judicial Personnel and Officials
Chapter 54 - Masters; Magistrates; Referees; Associate Judges
Subchapter J. El Paso Criminal Law Magistrate Court
Section 54.735. Powers and Duties
Section 54.736. Council of Judges
Section 54.737. Administrative Rules
Section 54.738. Transfer and Assignment of Cases
Section 54.739. Order of Assignment
Section 54.740. Effect of Transfer
Section 54.743. Objection to Judge
Section 54.744. Judges on El Paso Council of Judges
Section 54.745. Pretrial Diversion
Section 54.746. Jurisdiction of Judges on El Paso Council of Judges
Section 54.748. Oath of Office
Section 54.749. Judicial Immunity
Section 54.750. Exchange of Benches
Section 54.755. Court Reporter
Section 54.756. Family Law Master
Section 54.757. Judge of Criminal Law Magistrate Court
Section 54.758. Magistrates May Be Appointed
Section 54.759. Location of Court
Section 54.761. Inactive Court