Sec. 24.112. 11TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY)

(a) The 11th Judicial District is composed of Harris County.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (g), the provisions of this section apply to the 11th, 55th, 61st, 80th, 113th, 125th, 127th, 129th, 133rd, 151st, 152nd, 157th, 164th, and 165th judicial districts.

(c) The terms of each of the district courts begin on the first Mondays in January and July. The first term is designated the January-June term and the second term is designated the July-December term.

(d) In all suits, actions, or proceedings in the district courts, it is sufficient for the address or designation to be "District Court of Harris County."

(e) The judge of each district court shall sign the minutes of each court term not later than the 30th day after the end of the term and shall also sign the minutes at the end of each volume of the minutes. Each judge sitting in the court shall sign the minutes of the proceedings that were held before him.

(f) The judge of each district court may take the same vacation as the other district court judges of Harris County at any time during the year. During the judge's vacation, the court term remains open, and the judge of any other district court may hold court during the judge's vacation. The judges of the district courts shall, by agreement among themselves, take their vacations alternately so that there are at all times at least six district court judges in the county.

(g) Subsection (h) applies to the 11th, 55th, 61st, 80th, 113th, 125th, 127th, 129th, 133rd, 151st, 152nd, 157th, 164th, 165th, 189th, 190th, 215th, 234th, 269th, 270th, 280th, 281st, 295th, 333rd, and 334th judicial districts.

(h) The judges of the district courts listed in Subsection (g) by agreement shall designate one of the listed district courts as the domestic violence district court for Harris County. In designating the domestic violence district court, the judges shall give preference to a district court:

(1) that has a judicial vacancy at the time of the agreement; or

(2) for which the sitting judge of the district court has not at the time of the agreement announced a candidacy or become a candidate in the upcoming election for that judicial office.

(i) Subject to any jurisdictional limitations, the district court designated under Subsection (h) as the domestic violence district court shall give preference to domestic violence cases, including cases involving:

(1) dating violence, as defined by Section 71.0021, Family Code; and

(2) family violence, as defined by Section 71.004, Family Code.

(j) For the purposes of determining the preference the designated domestic violence district court is required to give cases under Subsection (i):

(1) a domestic violence case means:

(A) an original application for a protective order under Title 4, Family Code;

(B) an original application for a protective order under Title 4, Family Code, that involves both parties and is filed concurrently with an original petition under the Family Code; and

(C) any matter involving custody of a minor child if one parent is alleged to have caused the death of another parent and there is a history of domestic violence in the parents' relationship; and

(2) subject to judicial discretion and resources, the designated domestic violence district court may also hear divorce and custody cases in which:

(A) a court has made an affirmative finding of family violence involving both parties; or

(B) a protective order has been issued under Title 4, Family Code, involving both parties.

(k) The designated domestic violence district court shall:

(1) provide timely and efficient access to emergency protective orders and other court remedies for persons the court determines are victims of domestic violence;

(2) integrate victims' services for persons the court determines are victims of domestic violence who have a case before the court; and

(3) promote an informed and consistent court response to domestic violence cases to lessen the number of misdemeanors, felonies, and fatalities related to domestic violence in Harris County.

(l) The Harris County district clerk shall create a form and establish procedures to transfer a domestic violence case that qualifies for preference under this section to the domestic violence district court.

Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 90, Sec. 5, eff. Aug. 30, 1993. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 572 , Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.