Doing that would likely cause Dora the Explorer's head to explode full of all kinds of new tyrannical ideas.

Hard pass.

It depends on whether the county has a constitutional county court or statutory county courts.

The Texas Constitution requires that every county have a county court. The county judge was the county executive but also served the judicial role of presiding over legal matters in the county court. Like justices of the peace, a county judge of a constitutional county court does not have to be a licensed attorney.

Over time the Texas legislature has created statutory county courts in most counties with significant populations. Those courts are statutorily created and the judges are required to be licensed attorneys and those judges are elected just like district court judges.

In counties with a statutory county court (called a "Court at Law"), the County Judge fills only the executive function, but not a judicial role. In counties with only a constitutional county court, the County Judge fills both an executive and judicial role.

Manhattan said:

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El_Zorro said:

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Manhattan said:

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I met an attorney barred in the state of Texas (not a lib) that does not know that the county "judge" is not a judge in the court/legal sense.

I think County President might be the best title since County Administrators already exist.

I think changing the name would also help people pay attention to whom they vote for.

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You realize that some county judges also hear court cases, correct?

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As in people with the same position as Hidalgo?

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Yes as already answered by Captain Pablo. Just not in Metro and surrounding areas that have County Court at Law Judges.

Don't stop there. County government needs to be completely overhauled. Elect a body of 5 (or 7) representatives. You can still call it the Commissioner Court. The commissioners elect one of their own as the chairman or president. They hire a County Administrator to run the county on a day to day basis. County clerk, district clerk, sheriff, JPs, constables (actually, should be eliminated), treasurer (eliminate - already have a county auditor), tax collector (just a DMV office now) etc. are all hired by the Commissioners Court upon recommendation from the Administrator.

In other words, county government would be run like city government and school districts. Too many elected officials creates chaos in trying to run county government.

Chief Commissioner?

I bet there are judges in Houston from Beto-Mania that don't know HC Judge isn't an actual "judge". It's incredible how stupid so many of the judges Beto loving white liberals ushered in are.

TxLawDawg said:

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It depends on whether the county has a constitutional county court or statutory county courts.

The Texas Constitution requires that every county have a county court. The county judge was the county executive but also served the judicial role of presiding over legal matters in the county court. Like justices of the peace, a county judge of a constitutional county court does not have to be a licensed attorney.

Over time the Texas legislature has created statutory county courts in most counties with significant populations. Those courts are statutorily created and the judges are required to be licensed attorneys and those judges are elected just like district court judges.

In counties with a statutory county court (called a "Court at Law"), the County Judge fills only the executive function, but not a judicial role. In counties with only a constitutional county court, the County Judge fills both an executive and judicial role.

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Not exactly true. They can continue to do judicial matters. Most don't, but in some counties where there is a CCAL that is overloaded, the county judge can do some work, usually probate matters. There is a state law that provides a state supplement to pay those judges for doing judicial work if it takes up, I think, 25% of their time. The law is grossly abused. The Texas Association of Counties used to encourage ALL county judges to apply for and receive this supplement, even if they don't do the work. I don't know if they still do that.

County Tyrant would be appropriate where I live.

Same here. COVID BS gave the local county judge a massive power trip that he has yet to abdicate. F-ing done with politicians thinking the people work for them.

SociallyConditionedAg said:

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When did they get more power than the Sheriff? During the COVID panic, they were the ones closing businesses and churches, while the Sheriff enforced those violations. I thought the Sheriff was the most powerful official in the county.

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Not the case. Hell, even in Mayberry Andy had to report up to that ******* mayor.