Criminal jurisdiction
Original jurisdiction in Class C misdemeanors punishable by fine only — the tickets and fine-only offenses most Texans actually see.
Cause list
A docket worthy of Precinct 1.
Justice court is not theory. It is the Tuesday morning setting, the eviction file, the warrant, and the person at the clerk’s window who just wants a straight answer.
No. 01
A fair courtroom, not a political stage
Justice court is where neighbors resolve disputes, traffic citations are heard, and families face eviction and small-claims cases. The law — not party talking points — belongs on the bench.
No. 02
Dockets that respect people’s time
Working people, peace officers, and litigants should not lose a day because the court is disorganized. Keep the docket moving, the notices clear, and the process understandable.
No. 03
Magistrate work that backs public safety
A justice of the peace issues warrants, conducts magistrate duties, and handles inquests. That work requires training, temperament, and respect for both the Constitution and the community’s safety.
No. 04
Access for every Precinct 1 resident
The official court already serves English speakers during business hours and Spanish speakers on a published weekday schedule. A people’s court should remain approachable without ever pretending clerks can give legal advice.
No. 05
Stewardship of a county court
JP Precinct 1 is a taxpayer-funded office in the historic courthouse. Run it like it matters — professionally, frugally, and without drama.
No. 06
A trained, experienced bench
Texas requires justices of the peace to complete substantial judicial education. Precinct 1 is better served by a judge who has already done the work than by a candidate still learning the docket from scratch.
The office
What a Texas justice of the peace actually does
Civil & justice court
Debt claims, repair-and-remedy cases, and evictions where the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000, including attorney fees.
Magistrate & warrants
Issue search and arrest warrants, conduct preliminary hearings, and perform the magistrate functions that keep the rest of the justice system moving.
Inquests & oaths
Conduct inquests in counties without a medical examiner, administer oaths, and perform marriages — duties that call for dignity as much as procedure.
Jurisdiction summary follows the Texas Constitution, Article V, Section 19, and Bastrop County’s published description of JP Precinct 1. Civil jurisdictional amount is $20,000.