{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.1603","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Government Code § 54.1603","heading":"POWERS AND DUTIES.","body":"(a) The Commissioners Court of Bell County shall establish the powers and duties of a magistrate appointed under this subchapter. Except as otherwise provided by the commissioners court, a magistrate has the powers of a magistrate under the Code of Criminal Procedure and other laws of this state and may administer an oath for any purpose.\n(b) A magistrate shall give preference to performing the duties of a magistrate under Article 15.17, Code of Criminal Procedure.\n(c) The commissioners court may designate one or more magistrates to hold regular hearings to:\n(1) give admonishments;\n(2) set and review bail and conditions of release;\n(3) appoint legal counsel; and\n(4) determine other routine matters relating to preindictment or pending cases within those courts' jurisdiction.\n(d) In the hearings provided under Subsection (c), a magistrate shall give preference to the case of an individual held in county jail.\n(e) A magistrate may inquire into a defendant's intended plea to the charge and set the case for an appropriate hearing before a judge or master.\nAdded by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 967 (S.B. 251), Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2025.","path":["GOVERNMENT CODE","TITLE 2. JUDICIAL BRANCH","SUBTITLE D. JUDICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICIALS","CHAPTER 54. MASTERS; MAGISTRATES; REFEREES; ASSOCIATE JUDGES","SUBCHAPTER EE. BELL COUNTY CRIMINAL MAGISTRATES"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.54.htm#54.1603","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:16Z","sha256":"d64986842111b3926c3cf6c928711868d4c8d65216f53b78eb1a32c0b78d43a9","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.1602","next":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.1604"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}