{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.976","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Government Code § 54.976","heading":"PROCEEDINGS THAT MAY BE REFERRED.","body":"(a) A judge may refer to a magistrate any criminal case or matter relating to a criminal case for proceedings involving:\n(1) a negotiated plea of guilty or no contest and sentencing;\n(2) a pretrial motion;\n(3) an examining trial;\n(4) a writ of habeas corpus;\n(5) a bond forfeiture suit;\n(6) issuance of search warrants;\n(7) setting, setting conditions, modifying, revoking, and surrendering of bonds, including surety bonds;\n(8) arraignment of defendants;\n(9) a motion to increase or decrease a bond;\n(10) a motion to revoke community supervision or to proceed to an adjudication;\n(11) an issue of competency or a civil commitment under Chapter 46, 46B, or 46C, Code of Criminal Procedure, with or without a jury;\n(12) a motion to modify community supervision;\n(13) specialty court proceedings, including drug court proceedings, veterans treatment court proceedings, and driving while intoxicated court proceedings;\n(14) an expunction or a petition for nondisclosure;\n(15) an occupational driver's license;\n(16) a waiver of extradition;\n(17) the issuance of subpoenas and orders requiring the production of medical records, including records relating to mental health or substance abuse treatment; and\n(18) any other matter the judge considers necessary and proper.\n(b) A magistrate may select a jury. A magistrate may not preside over a contested criminal trial on the merits, regardless of whether the trial is before a jury.\n(c) A judge may refer to a magistrate any proceeding involving an application for a protective order under Title 4, Family Code, or Section 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure.\n(d) A judge may refer to a magistrate proceedings involving a grand jury, including issuance of grand jury subpoenas, receipt of grand jury reports on behalf of a district judge, the granting of a grand jury request to recess, motions to compel testimony, and discharge of a grand jury at the end of a term. A magistrate may not impanel a grand jury.\nAdded by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 849, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1991. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 413, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1993; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 979, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.\nAmended by:\nActs 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 864 (H.B. 3856), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.\nActs 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1205 (S.B. 1474), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2015.","path":["GOVERNMENT CODE","TITLE 2. JUDICIAL BRANCH","SUBTITLE D. JUDICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICIALS","CHAPTER 54. MASTERS; MAGISTRATES; REFEREES; ASSOCIATE JUDGES","SUBCHAPTER Q. CRIMINAL LAW MAGISTRATES IN TRAVIS COUNTY"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.54.htm#54.976","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:16Z","sha256":"b5bdd62b8e28c8e8c3ab4fc50bb92c6085a5e37ee5e722c1d92f166ba49fe58a","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.975","next":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.977"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}