Introduction

There are sixteen (16) Harris County Criminal Courts at Law. Each judge is elected to a four-year term. A Presiding Judge is elected every 6 months to chair administrative meetings. A Co-Presiding Judge is also elected to perform these duties when the Presiding Judge is not available.

The Presiding Judge: 1) serves as chief administrator of the offices of county court manager and county court coordinators, and of pretrial release services and all other court-related ministerial services in misdemeanor cases as required by the judges, 2) presides at any session of the judges; and 3) holds ex officio membership on all committees created by the judges in session that pertain to the goal of achieving more equal and efficient justice and the orderly dispatch of business.

Each court is staffed by representatives from several different offices and departments.

• The judge employs a court coordinator and the official court reporter.
• The court's official records are maintained and managed by assistant district clerks from the office of the Harris County District Clerk.
• Courtroom security and execution of court process is the responsibility of two deputies assigned by the Harris County Sheriff.
• Community Supervision (Probation) is represented by a court liaison officer from the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department who processes offenders placed on supervision.
• Personal data regarding each arrestee used to determine suitability for release on personal bond is gathered by members of the Harris County Pretrial Services Department.
• Prosecution on behalf of The State of Texas is conducted by up to four assistant district attorneys from the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
• Defendants found by the judge to be indigent are assigned counsel from a rotating pool of local defense attorneys pursuant to the courts' local plan mandated by the Texas Fair Defense Act.

The Office of County Court Management provides administrative, legal, and technical support services to the Harris County Criminal, Civil, Probate, and Justice of the Peace courts.