Scope and Responsibilities

• Magisterial Duties

• Administrative Duties

• Criminal Jurisdiction

• Civil Jurisdiction

The Justice of the Peace Court is a constitutional office whose origins date back to the early days of Texas statehood.  In fact, in some parts of Texas the Justice of the Peace was the only form of the law, making for interesting folklore throughout the state’s rich history. 

The Judge is elected to a four year term of office by the voters residing in that precinct.

In Grayson County, Precinct One is the largest and busiest Justice Court in the County.  The county seat of government is located in this precinct, that being Sherman.

The following is a detailed list of functions that the court oversees:   

Magisterial Duties: 

• Determines probable cause, issues arrest warrants, issues both adult and Juvenile  statutory warnings, and conduct bail examinations for arrested persons (CP 2.09):  
  

• Determines whether there is reasonable probability of a judgment being rendered against a person as a result of an accident while operating a motor  vehicle without insurance (TN 601.157): 
  

• Conducts reviews for sufficiency and issuance of search warrants:
  

• Reviews applications for emergency detention and issues mental health and dependency warrants: 

• Conducts hearings concerning the disposition of stolen property: 
  

• Conducts driver’s license suspension hearings:
  

• Conducts handgun license denial hearings:
  

• Conducts death investigations and orders autopsies:
  

• Conducts towing hearing:

• Conducts review for sufficiency and issuance of warrants to seize cruelly treated animals:
  

• Conducts hearing to determine disposition of animals:
  

• Conducts hearings on to review dangerous dog determination:

Administrative Duties: 

• Performs marriage ceremonies: 
  

• Handles and collects fees, fines and court cost: 
  

• Manages bank deposits: 
  

• Prepares report for auditor and treasurer: 
  

• Prepares budget:
  

• Supervises employees and managers payroll: 
  

• Prepares correspondence to defendants and parties to litigation as required by statute:

Criminal Jurisdiction:

• Reviews and files citation issued and complaints filed by local law enforcement agencies, including Constable, Sheriff, Department of Public Safety, etc:
  

• Reviews requests for driving safety course, files complaints for failure to appear and issue warrants, conducts show cause hearings, allows extension of time in which to complete course, dismisses cases, or imposes judgments:
  

• Reviews documents in connection with charges of no insurance, expired driver’s license, expired registration, and expired inspection:
  

• Conducts arraignment proceedings, conducts jury and non jury trials, imposes fines or deferred disposition as appropriate, allows payment of judgment in installments:
  

• Issues warrant of arrest, prepares and files complaints for failure to appear.
  

• Forfeits bail and initiates bond forfeiture proceedings:
  

• Undertakes efforts to satisfy judgment, issues capias pro fines, conduct indigency hearings:
  

• Issuance of Bad Check
  

• Reviews affidavit of probable cause, prepare complaints and file charges, send notice of Charges filed and issue summons or warrant:
  

• Collects restitution
  

• Failure to Attend School Offenses against juveniles:
  

• Thwarting Compulsory Attendance:

Civil Jurisdiction: 

• Files petitions instituting civil action within the jurisdiction of Justice Court: 
  

• Files petitions instituting proceedings to enforce deed restrictions:
  

• Evictions from residential and commercial properties:
  

• Files petitions instituting civil action within the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court