State, Counties, Address Increased Costs of Indigent Defense Services The Task Force on Indigent Defense (TFID) and its Grants Committee are meeting this month to determine whether to change the manner in which funds are distributed to counties to help offset the increased costs of providing indigent defense services, said Bell County Judge Jon Burrows, a member of the … [Read more...] about Texas Fair Defense Act (SB7)
Miscellaneous
Statutory County Courts at Law
Throughout 2004-2005, County Progress is featuring a series of articles depicting the various offices and positions that make up county government. Our April focus is the County Court at Law. Statutory County Courts at Law are created by the Texas Legislature to address a local need; they initially were created to handle the judicial functions of the county judge. The … [Read more...] about Statutory County Courts at Law
Women in County Government
She may not have known it at the time, but when Maxine Darst received her Texas Law License in 1976, she was part of a national movement. According to the Families and Work Institute, during the past 25 years women have achieved increasingly higher educational levels and steadily moved into managerial and professional occupations. On several levels, Darst – now Maxine Darst … [Read more...] about Women in County Government
Office of the County Sheriff
Article 5, section 23 of the Texas Constitution provides that “There shall be elected by the qualified voters of each county a Sheriff, who shall hold his office for the term of four years, whose duties, qualifications, prerequisites, and fees of office, shall be prescribed by the Legislature, and vacancies in whose office shall be filled by the Commissioners Court until … [Read more...] about Office of the County Sheriff
Monuments of Justice: Falls County Courthouse
County Seat: Marlin * Population 18,091
The Modern-style Falls County Courthouse was designed by Arthur E. Thomas. Erected in 1939, the building was fashioned from concrete, brick and stone. Falls County was created in 1850 from Limestone and Milam counties, with Viesca as the county seat. However, residents protested saying Viesca was west of the Brazos River, and most of the citizens lived east of the river. The … [Read more...] about Monuments of Justice: Falls County Courthouse