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House Bill 2330 |
House Author: King, Phil |
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Effective: 9-1-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Estes |
House Bill 2330 amends Government Code provisions relating to the statutory county courts in Wise County. The bill adds a second county court at law in Wise County and allows both courts to sit in Decatur or at another location determined by the judge and approved by the commissioners court. Under current law, a county court at law has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in civil cases in which the amount in controversy exceeds $500, but does not exceed $100,000, excluding interest and attorney's fees. The bill increases the maximum amount in controversy to $200,000.
House Bill 2330 requires a regular judge in a county court at law, in addition to the qualifications specified in statute, to have the qualifications of a district judge set out in the Texas Constitution. The bill also applies the laws governing the drawing, selection, service, and pay of jurors for county courts to a county court at law and specifies the number of jurors in certain cases. Further, the bill authorizes a judge of a county court at law and a judge of a district court or another county court at law with concurrent jurisdiction to transfer cases between the courts in the same manner judges of district courts transfer cases.