{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.996","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Government Code § 54.996","heading":"POWERS.","body":"(a) A judge may refer to a magistrate any criminal case for proceedings involving:\n(1) issuance of search warrants;\n(2) setting of bonds;\n(3) arraignment of defendants; and\n(4) any other matter that is subject to the review of the judge.\n(b) A magistrate may not preside over a contested trial on the merits, regardless of whether the trial is before a jury.\nAdded by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 577, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1993.","path":["GOVERNMENT CODE","TITLE 2. JUDICIAL BRANCH","SUBTITLE D. JUDICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICIALS","CHAPTER 54. MASTERS; MAGISTRATES; REFEREES; ASSOCIATE JUDGES","SUBCHAPTER R. CRIMINAL LAW MAGISTRATES IN WEBB COUNTY"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.54.htm#54.996","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:16Z","sha256":"4d6fe02eefafeb6a898701e7448bbda7690bdfa365441aeb92814e3a265813d6","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.995","next":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54.997"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}