By Henderson S.B. No. 516
74R5368 MWV-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to approval of and objection to assignment of certain
1-3 visiting judges.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 74.060, Government Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
1-7 (c) A judge may not be assigned to a district court that is
1-8 not required by statute to give preference to certain matters
1-9 unless the judge has been approved by a majority of the active
1-10 judges of the district courts in the county that are not required
1-11 by statute to give preference to certain matters.
1-12 (d) A judge may not be assigned to a district court that is
1-13 required by statute to give preference to civil matters unless the
1-14 judge has been approved by a majority of the active judges of the
1-15 district courts in the county that are required by statute to give
1-16 preference to civil matters. A judge may not be assigned to a
1-17 family district court or a district court that is required by
1-18 statute to give preference to family law matters unless the judge
1-19 has been approved by a majority of the active judges of family
1-20 district courts and district courts that are required by statute to
1-21 give preference to family law matters in the county. A judge may
1-22 not be assigned to a criminal district court or a district court
1-23 that is required by statute to give preference to criminal matters
1-24 unless the judge has been approved by a majority of the active
2-1 judges of the criminal district courts and district courts that are
2-2 required by statute to give preference to criminal matters in the
2-3 county.
2-4 SECTION 2. Section 74.053, Government Code, is amended to
2-5 read as follows:
2-6 Sec. 74.053. OBJECTION TO ASSIGNED JUDGE. (a) When a judge
2-7 is assigned under this chapter the presiding judge shall, if it is
2-8 reasonable and practicable and if time permits, give notice of the
2-9 assignment to each attorney representing a party to the case that
2-10 is to be heard in whole or part by the assigned judge.
2-11 (b) Except in those cases in which the judge is disqualified
2-12 or recused by statute, rule, or otherwise from presiding over the
2-13 case, if <If> a party to a civil case files a timely objection to
2-14 the assignment, the assigned judge shall not hear the case.
2-15 <Except as provided by Subsection (d), each party to the case is
2-16 only entitled to one objection under this section for that case.>
2-17 (c) An objection under this section must be filed before the
2-18 first hearing or trial, including pretrial hearings, over which the
2-19 assigned judge is to preside.
2-20 <(d) A former judge or justice who was not a retired judge
2-21 may not sit in a case if either party objects to the judge or
2-22 justice.>
2-23 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
2-24 applies only to an assignment of a judge under Chapter 74,
2-25 Government Code, made on or after that date. An assignment made
2-26 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
2-27 effect on the date of assignment, and that law is continued in
3-1 effect for that purpose.
3-2 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.