{"data":{"id":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54a.108","jurisdiction":"us-tx","citation":"Tex. Government Code § 54A.108","heading":"POWERS.","body":"(a) Except as limited by an order of referral, an associate judge may:\n(1) conduct hearings;\n(2) hear evidence;\n(3) compel production of relevant evidence;\n(4) rule on the admissibility of evidence;\n(5) issue summons for the appearance of witnesses;\n(6) examine a witness;\n(7) swear a witness for a hearing;\n(8) make findings of fact on evidence;\n(9) formulate conclusions of law;\n(10) rule on pretrial motions;\n(11) recommend the rulings, orders, or judgment to be made in a case;\n(12) regulate proceedings in a hearing;\n(13) order the attachment of a witness or party who fails to obey a subpoena; and\n(14) take action as necessary and proper for the efficient performance of the duties required by the order of referral.\n(b) An associate judge may, in the interest of justice, refer a case back to the referring court regardless of whether a timely objection to the associate judge hearing the trial on the merits or presiding at a jury trial has been made by any party.\nAdded by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 6.01, eff. January 1, 2012.","path":["GOVERNMENT CODE","TITLE 2. JUDICIAL BRANCH","SUBTITLE D. JUDICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICIALS","CHAPTER 54A. ASSOCIATE JUDGES","SUBCHAPTER B. CIVIL ASSOCIATE JUDGES"],"source_url":"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.54A.htm#54A.108","current_through":"89th 2nd Called Legislative Session, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:47:16Z","sha256":"c680e5f2f0870bee74e9a7c74d412aecd82db7b2668ef5b4d7ff3d0c29d82064","source_id":"us-tx","stale":false,"prev":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54a.107","next":"us-tx/tex.-government-code-54a.109"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}