TX HB5620

Authorizes judges of the 51st, 119th, 340th, or 391st district courts to appoint full-time or part-time criminal associate judges in Coke, Concho, Irion, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, and Tom Green Counties, contingent on commissioners court approval

Criminal associate judges may handle negotiated guilty pleas, bond forfeitures, pretrial motions, habeas corpus writs, examining trials, expunction petitions, asset forfeiture hearings, community supervision modifications, and specialty court proceedings

Associate judges may accept guilty pleas for misdemeanor and felony offenses and select juries, but cannot preside over criminal trials on the merits or jury trials on bond forfeiture matters

Judges of designated juvenile courts may refer proceedings under Family Code Title 3 to criminal associate judges, including any ancillary matters

Adds these newly authorized associate judges to the official list of magistrates under the Code of Criminal Procedure, effective September 1, 2025