Sec. 24.108. 8TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (DELTA, FRANKLIN, HOPKINS, AND RAINS COUNTIES)

(a) The 8th Judicial District is composed of Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, and Rains counties.

(b) In any county in the district in which there are two or more district courts, those district courts have concurrent jurisdiction in that county.

(c) In any county in the district in which there are two or more district courts, the judges of those courts may, in their discretion, either in termtime or in vacation, on motion of any party, on agreement of the parties, or on their own motion, transfer any civil or criminal case or proceeding on their dockets to the docket of one of the other district courts. The judges in Delta and Franklin counties may transfer a case by an order entered on the minutes of the transferring court. The judges of the courts may, in their discretion, exchange benches or districts from time to time. If a judge of one of the courts is disqualified, he may transfer the case or proceeding from his court to one of the other courts. Any of the judges may in his own courtroom try and determine any case or proceeding pending in any of the other courts without having the case transferred or may sit in any of the other courts and hear and determine any case or proceeding pending in one of those courts. Two or more judges may try different cases in the same court at the same time and each may occupy his own courtroom or the room of any other court. In case of absence, sickness, or disqualification of any of the judges, any other of the judges may hold court for him. Any of the judges may hear and determine any part or question of any case or proceeding pending in any of the courts, and any other of the judges may complete the hearing and render judgment in the proceeding. Any of the judges may hear and determine motions, petitions for injunction, applications for appointment of receivers, interventions, motions to transfer venue, pleas in abatement and all dilatory pleas, motions for new trials, and all preliminary matters, questions, and proceedings, and may enter judgment or order on them in the court in which the case or proceeding is pending without having the matter transferred to the court of the acting judge. The judge in whose court the matter is pending may proceed to hear, complete, and determine the matter or all or any part of any other matter and may render final judgment on it. Any of the judges of the courts may issue restraining orders and injunctions returnable to any of the other courts. This subsection does not limit the powers of the judges when acting for any other judge by exchange of benches or otherwise.

(d) The terms of the 8th District Court begin on the first Mondays in January and July.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.