Associate Judge or Magistrate

Full Job Description

Presides over hearings and other matters referred by the Travis County District Judges, primarily regarding criminal cases. In particular, this position will handle mental health matters, including competency hearings, as well as expunctions, pleas, and other hearings sent by the District Courts. Additionally, this position will manage the Travis County Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA) program as well as the CAFA Associate Judges. Travis County provides defense attorneys to arrested persons during the magistration process and prosecution attends magistration to give their input on new cases.

This position will serve as a Magistrate Judge to the District Courts holding dockets every day of the week and be available to conduct hearings all day. This position will be expected to be in court at the Criminal Justice Center every weekday, Monday through Friday.

The start date for this position is April 16th, 2025.

Requirements

Performs other job-related duties as assigned including:

• Handling criminal cases and other low-level offenses, like traffic violations
  
• Issuing arrest warrants, search warrants and civil or criminal summonses
  
• Setting bail, bond or other release conditions for accused parties in criminal cases
  
• Holding preliminary hearings for certain cases
  
• Presiding over examination hearings after evaluating evidence
  
• Administering oaths to witnesses, suspects and attorneys
  
• Developing reports and recommendations for higher court judges in upcoming cases
  
• Issuing emergency protective orders
  
• Preparing dockets and subpoenas for court
  
• Reminding defendants of their rights
  
• Accepting pleas
  
• Processing and accepting payments of bonds
  
• Uploading filings, orders and notices into an electronic case management system
  
• Handling post-trial matters like international prisoner transfers or habeas corpus hearings
  
• Presiding over jury selection for trials
  
• Presiding over arraignments
  
• Serving on court committees
  
• Presiding over naturalization ceremonies
  

Qualifications

J. D./LL.B. from an accredited law school and must have been a practicing lawyer or judge, or both, for the five (5) years preceding the appointment as a Criminal Magistrate Judge, during which time law license cannot have been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated suspension. Must be a resident of the State of Texas and Travis County for two (2) years preceding the appointment. Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas for at least five (5) years.

Preferred:
Knowledge and experience as an attorney or judge in magistration process, understanding and or training in mental health, and criminal law generally.
Have been a practicing lawyer or judge, or both, for the eight (8) years preceding the appointment as a Magistrate Judge, during which time law license cannot have been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated suspension.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Criminal Law as an attorney or judge.
  
• Constitutional, statutory and case law and rules relating to judicial procedures, rules of evidence and operations of Travis County Criminal Courts.
  
• Management principles and practices.
  
• Area of law assigned.
  
• Business English, grammar, punctuation.
  
• Microsoft Office Suite software.

Skill in:

• Problem solving and decision-making.
  
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures, and legal precedents in area of specialty.
  
• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.
  

Ability to:

• Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically.
  
• Motivate, train, supervise and evaluate staff.
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
  
• Handle stressful court environment and client/customer contact for extended periods of time.
  

Additional Information

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Hours: Varies depending on assignments, but will regularly work Monday through Friday in-person at the Courthouse.

Department: Criminal Courts

Location: Blackwell-Thurman CJC 509 W. 11th Austin TX 78701

Criminal & Employment Background Check Required

For updates or questions on this position, contact: Margaret.Terronez@traviscountytx.gov