Sec. 25.0003. JURISDICTION.
(a) A statutory county court has jurisdiction over all causes and proceedings, civil and criminal, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts.
(b) A statutory county court does not have jurisdiction over causes and proceedings concerning roads, bridges, and public highways and the general administration of county business that is within the jurisdiction of the commissioners court of each county.
Text of subsection effective until September 01, 2020
(c) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, a statutory county court exercising civil jurisdiction concurrent with the constitutional jurisdiction of the county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in:
(1) civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $200,000, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition; and
(2) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims, regardless of the amount in controversy.
Text of subsection effective on September 01, 2020
(c) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, a statutory county court exercising civil jurisdiction concurrent with the constitutional jurisdiction of the county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in:
(1) civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $250,000, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition; and
(2) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims, regardless of the amount in controversy.
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a statutory county court has, concurrent with the county court, the probate jurisdiction provided by general law for county courts.
(e) In a county that has a statutory probate court, a statutory probate court is the only county court created by statute with probate jurisdiction.
(f) A statutory county court does not have the jurisdiction of a statutory probate court granted statutory probate courts by the Estates Code.
Sec. 25.0004. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) A statutory county court or its judge may issue writs of injunction, mandamus, sequestration, attachment, garnishment, certiorari, supersedeas, and all writs necessary for the enforcement of the jurisdiction of the court. It may issue writs of habeas corpus in cases where the offense charged is within the jurisdiction of the court or any court of inferior jurisdiction in the county.
(b) A statutory county court or its judge may punish for contempt as prescribed by general law.
(c) The judge of a statutory county court has all other powers, duties, immunities, and privileges provided by law for county court judges.
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the judge of a statutory county court has no authority over the county's administrative business that is performed by the county judge.
(e) The judge of a statutory county court may be delegated authority to hear an application under Section 25.052, 26.07, or 61.312, Alcoholic Beverage Code.
(f) The judge of a statutory county court does not have general supervisory control or appellate review of the commissioners court.
(g) A judge of a statutory county court has the judicial immunity of a district judge.
Text of subsection effective until September 01, 2020
(b) Practice in a statutory county court is that prescribed by law for county courts, except that practice, procedure, rules of evidence, issuance of process and writs, and all other matters pertaining to the conduct of trials and hearings in the statutory county courts, other than the number of jurors, that involve those matters of concurrent jurisdiction with district courts are governed by the laws and rules pertaining to district courts. This section does not affect local rules of administration adopted under Section 74.093.
Text of subsection effective on September 01, 2020
(b) Practice in a statutory county court is that prescribed by law for county courts, except that practice, procedure, rules of evidence, issuance of process and writs, the drawing of jury panels, the selection of jurors, and all other matters pertaining to the conduct of trials and hearings in the statutory county courts that involve those matters of concurrent jurisdiction with district courts are governed by the laws and rules pertaining to the district courts in the county in which the statutory county court is located. This section does not affect local rules of administration adopted under Section 74.093.