Justice of the Peace

Duties & Responsibilities

A Justice of the Peace has the authority to:

  • Administer oaths
  • Conduct preliminary hearings
  • Issue warrants for search and arrest
  • Death inquest
  • Conduct administrative hearings and various other court procedures
  • Serve as a trial court judge for Class C misdemeanors and Civil Suits and Small Claims
  • Perform marriages

Civil Suits

The Justice Court also functions as a small claims court in which the jurisdiction is $20,000 or less, monetary only, in civil matters in which exclusive jurisdiction is not in district or county court and the amount in controversy does not exceed $20,000 monetary and/or property, with the exclusion of real estate. This also includes eviction suits.

Precincts

There are five Justice of the Peace precincts: