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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment of a retired or former judge as a |
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visiting judge in certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 26, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 26.020 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.020. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "former |
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constitutional county judge" means a person who: |
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(1) served as a judge for at least 96 months in a |
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constitutional county court; or |
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(2) served as a judge for at least 48 months in a |
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constitutional county court and who is a licensed attorney in this |
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state. |
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SECTION 2. Section 26.023(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The county judge may appoint a retired judge, former |
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constitutional county judge, or a constitutional county judge from |
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another county as a visiting judge when the county judge is absent |
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from the county or absent because of physical incapacity. |
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SECTION 3. Section 26.024(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The county judge may appoint a retired judge, former |
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constitutional county judge, or a constitutional county judge from |
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another county as a visiting judge to share the bench if the county |
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judge finds that the dockets of the county court reflect a case load |
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that the county judge considers to be in excess of that which can be |
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disposed of properly in a manner consistent with the efficient |
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administration of justice. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |