Pol. Adv. Paid for by Alma Hays Campaign Fund, McKinney, TX 75070
Janice Smith, Treasurer
CONSERVATIVE LEADERSHIP
The office of the district clerk has been included in every Texas constitution since the Republic. Article 5, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution provides that there shall be a district clerk in each county. The district clerk is an elected official who serves a four-year term. If the office becomes vacant, a district court judge appoints a new clerk, who holds office until it is filled by election.
The district clerk provides administrative and other support for the district courts in each county. The clerk is custodian of all court pleadings and papers that are part of any cause of action, civil or criminal, in the district courts served by the clerk. The district clerk indexes and secures all court records collects filing fees, and handles funds held in litigation and money awarded to minors.
Some of the support that the district clerk provides includes compiling the list of potential jurors for jury service. The district clerk is responsible for issuing jury summons and maintaining a list of persons qualified or disqualified from service.
The United States Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, designates the clerk of a state court of record as passport acceptance agent. In Texas, this duty is given to district clerk.
The district clerk should be familiar with the general rules regarding passport issuance and eligibility and her role is to accept the applications, and may perform all duties necessary to process an application for a United States passport, including taking passport photographs.
The district courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction of Texas. The geographical area served by each court is established by the Legislature, but each county must be served by at least one district court. In sparsely populated areas of the State, several counties may be served by a single district court, while an urban county may be served by many district courts.
District courts have original jurisdiction in all felony criminal cases, divorce cases, cases involving title to land, election contest cases, civil matters in which the amount in controversy (the amount of money or damages involved) is $200 or more, and any matters in which jurisdiction is not placed in another trial court. While most district courts try both criminal and civil cases, in the more densely populated counties the courts may specialize in civil, criminal, juvenile, or family law matters.
What is a
District Clerk?
Republican For District Clerk
