The Texas Constitution vests broad judicial and administrative powers
in the position of County Judge, who presides over a five-member Commissioners’ Court,
which has budgetary and administrative authority over county government
operations. The Judge is also responsible for calling elections,
posting elections notices and for receiving and canvassing the election
returns. The County Judge is also head of civil defense and disaster
relief, county welfare, and prepares the county budget along with the
County Auditor.
The County Judge handles such widely varying matters as hearings for
beer and wine license applications, hearing on admittance to State
Hospitals for the mentally ill and mentally retarded, juvenile work
permits and temporary guardianships for special purposes. The Judge is
also responsible for calling elections, posting elections notices and
for receiving and canvassing the election returns. The County Judge may
perform marriages. The County Judge is also head of civil defense and
disaster relief, county welfare and in counties under 225,000
population, the Judge prepares the county budget along with the County
Auditor or County Clerk.