Criminal Magistrate Judge - Counsel at First Appearance Docket

Presides over magistration, as well as hearings and other matters referred by County Court at Law Judges, primarily regarding criminal cases.  This position will be working in Travis County’s new Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA) program, which is planned to eventually become a 24-hour operation.  Travis County will be providing defense attorneys to arrested persons during the magistration process and prosecution will attend magistration to give their input on new cases.   As a part of CAFA, this position will be expected to be available in the evenings, weekends, and holidays on a rotation basis.

The start date for this position is April 1st, 2025.

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

J. D./LL.B. from an accredited law school and must have been a practicing lawyer or judge, or both, for the four (4) years preceding the appointment as a Criminal Magistrate Judge, during which time law license cannot have been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated suspension.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 four (4) years.
 
Preferred:
 Knowledge and experience as an attorney or judge in magistration process 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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 nights, holidays, and weekends
 
 Department: Criminal Courts
 
 Location: Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center
 
 Criminal & Employment Background Check Required