GOVERNMENT CODE

TITLE 2. JUDICIAL BRANCH

SUBTITLE F. COURT ADMINISTRATION

CHAPTER 74. COURT ADMINISTRATION ACT

SUBCHAPTER A. CHIEF JUSTICE

Sec. 74.001.  MEETINGS.  (a)  The chief justice shall call and preside over an annual meeting of
the presiding judges of the administrative judicial regions on a date and at a time and place
in the state designated by the chief justice.
(b)  The chief justice may call and convene additional meetings of the regional presiding
judges or local administrative judges that he considers necessary for the promotion of the
orderly and efficient administration of justice.
(c)  At the meetings, the judges shall:
(1)  study the statistics reflecting the condition of the dockets of the courts of the state to
determine the need for the assignment of judges under Subchapter C;
(2)  compare the regional and local rules of court to achieve the uniformity of rules that is
practicable and consistent with local conditions;
(3)  consider uniformity in the administration of this chapter in the various administrative
regions; and
(4)  promote more effective administration of justice through the use of this chapter.
(d)  The expenses of the judges attending these meetings shall be paid as provided by Sections
74.043 and 74.061.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.


Sec. 74.003.  ASSIGNMENT OF JUSTICES AND JUDGES FOR APPELLATE COURTS.  (a)  The
chief justice of the supreme court may temporarily assign a justice of a court of appeals to
another court of appeals regardless of whether a vacancy exists in the court of appeals to
which the justice is assigned.
(b)  The chief justice of the supreme court may assign a qualified retired justice or judge of the
supreme court, of the court of criminal appeals, or of a court of appeals to a court of appeals for
active service regardless of whether a vacancy exists in the court to which the justice is
assigned. To be eligible for assignment under this subsection, a retired justice or judge must:
(1)  have served as an active justice or judge for at least 96 months in a district, statutory
probate, statutory county, or appellate court, with at least 48 of those months in an appellate
court;
(2)  not have been removed from office;
(3)  certify under oath to the chief justice of the supreme court, on a form prescribed by the
chief justice, that:
(A)  the justice or judge has never been publicly reprimanded or censured by the State
Commission on Judicial Conduct; and
(B)  the justice or judge:
(i)  did not resign or retire from office after the State Commission on Judicial Conduct notified
the justice or judge of the commencement of a full investigation into an allegation or
appearance of misconduct or disability of the justice or judge as provided in Section 33.022
and before the final disposition of that investigation; or
(ii)  if the justice or judge did resign from office under circumstances described by
Subparagraph (i), the justice or judge was not publicly reprimanded or censured as a result of
the investigation;
(4)  annually demonstrate that the justice or judge has completed in the past state fiscal year
the educational requirements for active appellate court justices or judges; and
(5)  certify to the chief justice of the supreme court a willingness not to appear and plead as an
attorney in any court in this state for a period of two years.
(c)  An active or retired justice or judge assigned as provided by this section out of the county of
his residence is entitled to receive the same expenses and per diem as those allowed a district
judge assigned as provided by Subchapter C. The state shall pay the expenses and per diem on
certificates of approval by the chief justice of the supreme court or the chief justice of the court
of appeals to which the justice or judge is assigned. The compensation authorized by this
subsection is in addition to all other compensation authorized by law.
(d)  An active justice assigned out of the county of his residence as provided by this section is
entitled to receive, pro rata for the time serving on assignment, supplemental compensation
from the county or counties paying supplemental compensation under Chapter 31 to an
associate justice of the court of appeals to which the justice is assigned.
(e)  A retired justice or judge assigned as provided by this section is entitled to receive, pro rata
for the time serving on assignment, from money appropriated from the general revenue fund
for that purpose, an amount equal to the compensation received from state and county sources
by a justice of the court of appeals to which assigned.
(f)  For the purposes of Subsection (b)(1), a month of service is calculated as a calendar month
or a portion of a calendar month in which a justice or judge was authorized by election or
appointment to preside.
(g)  Subsection (b)(1) does not apply to a retired justice of the supreme court.
(h)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an active district court judge may be
assigned to hear a matter pending in an appellate court.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1991,
72nd Leg., ch. 785, Sec. 1, 7, eff. June 16, 1991; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 315, Sec. 7, 8, eff. Sept. 1,
2003.


Sec. 74.004.  SUPERVISION OF OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION.  The chief justice shall
direct and supervise the office of court administration.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.


Sec. 74.005.  APPOINTMENT OF REGIONAL PRESIDING JUDGES.  (a)  The governor, with the
advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint one judge in each administrative region as
presiding judge of the region.
(b)  On the death, resignation, or expiration of the term of office of a presiding judge, the
governor immediately shall appoint or reappoint a presiding judge.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.


Sec. 74.006.  SUPREME COURT DUTIES.  The chief justice shall ensure that the supreme court
executes and implements the court's administrative duties and responsibilities under this
chapter.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.


Sec. 74.007.  COMMITTEES.  The chief justice, subject to the approval of the supreme court,
shall name and appoint members to committees necessary or desirable for the efficient
administration of justice or to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.


SUBCHAPTER B. SUPREME COURT

Sec. 74.021.  SUPERVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL.  The supreme court has
supervisory and administrative control over the judicial branch and is responsible for the
orderly and efficient administration of justice.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.


Sec. 74.022.  CHANGES IN NUMBER OF COURTS.  (a)  The supreme court shall assess the need
for adding, consolidating, eliminating, or reallocating existing appellate courts.
(b)  The supreme court shall promulgate rules, regulations, and criteria to be used in
assessing those needs.
(c)  The supreme court shall recommend to the regular session of the legislature convening in
the third year following the year in which the federal decennial census is taken any needed
changes in the number or allocation of those courts.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1995,
74th Leg., ch. 639, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


Sec. 74.023.  DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION.  (a)  The supreme court
shall appoint the administrative director of the courts for the office of court administration.
(b)  The director serves at the pleasure of the supreme court and shall be subordinate to, and
act by the authority and under the direction of, the chief justice.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 2.93(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
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