By Junell H.B. No. 929
76R1483 DB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of a judicial district composed of Tom
1-3 Green County.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 24.541 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 24.541. 396TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (TOM GREEN COUNTY). (a)
1-8 The 396th Judicial District is composed of Tom Green County.
1-9 (b) The terms of the 396th District Court begin on the first
1-10 Mondays in March and September.
1-11 (c) Indictments within Tom Green County issued by any
1-12 district court in the county may be returned to the 396th District
1-13 Court.
1-14 (d) Section 24.153, relating to the 51st District Court,
1-15 contains provisions applicable to both that court and the 396th
1-16 District Court.
1-17 SECTION 2. Section 24.153(c), Government Code, is amended to
1-18 read as follows:
1-19 (c) The judges of the 51st, 119th, [and] 340th, and 396th
1-20 district courts may, in their discretion, exchange benches and sit
1-21 for each other without formal order in each county in those
1-22 districts, including counties in which the districts do not
1-23 overlap. Any of the judges may, in his own courtroom, try and
1-24 determine any case or proceeding pending in any of the other courts
2-1 without having the case transferred, or may sit in any of the other
2-2 courts and hear and determine any case pending in one of those
2-3 courts. The judges may try different cases filed in the same court
2-4 at the same time, and each may occupy his own courtroom or the room
2-5 of any other court. In case of absence, sickness, or
2-6 disqualification of any of the judges, any of the other judges may
2-7 hold court for him. Any of the judges may hear and determine any
2-8 part or question of a case or proceeding pending in any of the
2-9 courts, and any of the other judges may complete the hearing and
2-10 render judgment in the case. Any of the judges may hear and
2-11 determine motions, petitions for injunction, applications for
2-12 appointment of receivers, interventions, motions to transfer venue,
2-13 pleas in abatement, all dilatory pleas, motions for new trials, and
2-14 all preliminary matters, questions, and proceedings, and may enter
2-15 judgment or order thereon in the court in which the case is pending
2-16 without having the case transferred to the court of the acting
2-17 judge. The judge in whose court the case is pending may proceed to
2-18 hear, complete, and determine any part or all of the case or other
2-19 matter and render final judgment. Any of the judges may issue
2-20 restraining orders and injunctions returnable to any of the other
2-21 judges or courts.
2-22 SECTION 3. The 396th Judicial District is created and this
2-23 Act takes effect October 1, 1999.
2-24 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-26 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-27 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.