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Texas Family Code - Section 201.007. Powers Of Associate Judge

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Family Code > Texas Family Code - Section 201.007. Powers Of Associate Judge

§ 201.007. POWERS OF ASSOCIATE JUDGE.  (a) Except as 
limited by an order of referral, an associate judge may:
		(1)  conduct a hearing;                                                       
		(2)  hear evidence;                                                           
		(3)  compel production of relevant evidence;                                  
		(4)  rule on the admissibility of evidence;                                   
		(5)  issue a summons for the appearance of witnesses;                         
		(6)  examine a witness;                                                       
		(7)  swear a witness for a hearing;                                           
		(8)  make findings of fact on evidence;                                       
		(9)  formulate conclusions of law;                                            
		(10)  recommend an order to be rendered in a case;                            
		(11)  regulate all proceedings in a hearing before the 
associate judge;     
		(12)  order the attachment of a witness or party who 
fails to obey a subpoena;
		(13)  order the detention of a witness or party found 
guilty of contempt, pending approval by the referring court as 
provided by Section 201.013;
		(14)  render and sign:                                                        
			(A)  a final order agreed to in writing as to both 
form and substance by all parties;
			(B)  a final default order;  or                                              
			(C)  a temporary order;  and                                                 
		(15)  take action as necessary and proper for the 
efficient performance of the associate judge's duties.
	(b)  An associate judge may, in the interest of justice, 
refer a case back to the referring court regardless of whether a 
timely objection to the associate judge hearing the trial on the 
merits or presiding at a jury trial has been made by any party.
	(c)  An agreed order, a default order, or a temporary order 
rendered and signed by an associate judge under Subsection (a) 
constitutes an order of the referring court.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, § 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1302, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 
1999;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 476, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003;  
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 550, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.

Last modified: August 11, 2007