Bosque County Republican Party

District Judge

The Honorable Shaun Carpenter

Office: 254-435-6626

Duties and Responsibilities of the County Court at Law

The County Court at Law Judge presides over class A & B misdemeanor offenses, Appeals from JP and Municipal Courts, Civil cases $5000 to $200,000 and DFPS, Family Law, Eminent domain/Condemnation, Driver’s License Appeals and Occupational Driver’s License as well as the Juvenile Judge.

Duties and Responsibilities of the District Attorney

•  Represents the state in prosecuting felony criminal cases
•  Works with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases 
•  Presents cases to the grand jury
• Represents victims of violence in protective orders and represents the state  in removing children from abusive households

Duties and Responsibilities of the County Judge:

The County Judge is frequently the most visible official in county government. Often thought of as the county's chief executive officer, a County Judge has broad judicial and administrative powers, including serving as the presiding officer of the county's policy-making body, the Commissioners Court. Referred to as "chief justice" by early Texas constitutions, the current office of County Judge was established by the Texas Constitution of 1876.

In most counties, the County Judge presides over the constitutional county court. While responsibilities vary from county to county, a County Judge may consider criminal, civil, probate, juvenile and mental competency matters and has appellate jurisdiction over matters arising from the justice courts. In some counties, county courts at law have been created with separate judges to relieve the County Judge of some or all of the judicial duties of the office.

The County Judge is the presiding officer of the Commissioners Court and is required by law to perform this function when present. In the County Judge's absence, any commissioner may preside over the court. It is incumbent upon the County Judge to carefully abide by statues that require meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public.

The Judge is also a voting member of the Commissioners Court and works with the other four members of the court to approve the county budget and exercise administrative authority over county government operations.

County Judges do not have autonomous authority to set the business of the Commissioners Court or decide what motions will be heard; the entire court makes these decisions. 

County Judges perform a wide range of other administrative duties. These responsibilities include conducting hearings for beer and wine applications, calling elections, posting elections notices and overseeing election recounts. The County Judge also serves as the county's emergency management director and has the authority to designate an emergency management coordinator to serve as an assistant for emergency management issues.

The County Judge also represents the County at ceremonial occasions and on various boards and committees such as regional council of governments. 

The broad range of responsibilities of County Judge makes this office a very important one in county government.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Justice of the Peace Pct 2

Justices of the Peace, also known as JP's, are the presiding officers of the Justice court and small claims court. The JP's have jurisdiction over class C misdemeanors, issues arrest and magistrates adult and juvenile Offenders. The JP's also hold inquests upon death.