Job Description
General Summary:
The Felony Associate Judge is appointed by the District and County Court at Law Judges, with approval from the Commissioners Court. The Felony Associate Judge presides over cases referred to him/her. The Felony Associate Judge's conduct is governed by the Code of Judicial Conduct and shall perform his/her duties of office impartially and diligently.
Essential Duties:
The Felony Associate Judge performs all duties and exercises the powers described in the Texas Government Code Section 54A, et al. This includes presiding at hearings, ruling on evidence and rendering and signing orders as well as recommending orders to be signed in certain cases. The Felony Associate Judge also presides over the Specialty Courts in Brazos County, currently the Recovery Court (Drug Court) and the RESTART Court (Mental Health Court). In addition, the Felony Associate Judge may at times hold juvenile hearings under Title 3 of the Family Code pursuant to Texas Family Code Sec. 54.10.
Other Duties as assigned.
Supervision
Received:
Given: This is a supervisory position, which may include supervision of the court coordinator, court reporter, and bailiff, and administrative assistant.
Education
Required: Doctorate of Jurisprudence.
Preferred:
Experience/Qualifications
Required: Resident of Brazos County; licensed to practice law in Texas and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas for at least five years; must not have been removed from office by impeachment, by the supreme court, by the governor or address to the legislature, by a tribunal reviewing a recommendation of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, or by the legislature's abolition of the Judge's court; and not have resigned from office after having received notice that formal proceedings by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct had been instituted as provided by Section 33.022 and before final disposition of the proceedings.
Preferred:
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Required: Licensed Attorney.
Preferred:
Physical Demands
Typical: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; bend and kneel; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds, such as books and stacks of records. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Typical: Criminal law with special emphasis on Texas Penal Code, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and Texas Rules of Evidence. Knowledge of statutory eligibility criteria and legal frameworks governing problem-solving dockets.
Work Environment
Typical: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is constantly required to perform tedious, exacting work, and required to work under time pressures to meet deadlines. The employee is frequently required to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. The Felony Associate Judge, in presiding over the Specialty Courts, may have to work after normal business hours to accommodate the participants of those Courts.
