{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.306","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Government Code § 54.306","heading":"PROCEEDING THAT MAY BE REFERRED.","body":"(a) A judge may refer to a magistrate any matter arising out of a criminal case involving:\n(1) a negotiated plea of guilty or nolo contendere before the court;\n(2) a bond forfeiture;\n(3) a pretrial motion;\n(4) a postconviction writ of habeas corpus;\n(5) an examining trial;\n(6) an occupational driver's license;\n(7) an appeal of an administrative driver's license revocation hearing; and\n(8) any other matter the judge considers necessary and proper.\n(b) The magistrate may not preside over a trial on the merits, whether or not the trial is before a jury.\nActs 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 215, Sec. 2, eff. May 23, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 811, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.","path":["GOVERNMENT CODE","TITLE 2. JUDICIAL BRANCH","SUBTITLE D. JUDICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICIALS","CHAPTER 54. MASTERS; MAGISTRATES; REFEREES; ASSOCIATE JUDGES","SUBCHAPTER D. CRIMINAL LAW MAGISTRATES IN DALLAS COUNTY"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.54.htm#54.306","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:16Z","sha256":"5b4e35eec6c87ff772b5ce8efeaa4e0f88a98e21e9c8f3969081b54c97965505","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.305","next":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.307"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}