Texas Attorney General Opinion: JM-558 Page: 3 of 4
This text is part of the collection entitled: Texas Attorney General Opinions and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Honorable Richard G. Morales, Sr. - Page 3 (JM-558)
(1) withi one year after the date he is
first elected, a 40-hour course in the perfor-
mance of his IJuties; and
(2) each Eollowing year, a 20-hour course.
(b) The courses must be completed in an ac-
credited state-oupported school of higher educa-
tion. (Emphasis added).
A justice of the peace who is not a licensed attorney may be removed
if he fails to successfully complete the course within a year after
the date he is first elected. The statute does not require him to
fulfill the educational requirement before he begins service as
justice of the peace.
You also inquire abcut section 1.83 of the Family Code which
provides in part:
(a) The following persons are authorized to
conduct marriage ceremonies:
(4) justices of the supreme court, judges of
the court of criminal appeals, justices of the
courts of apeals, judges of the district,
county, and probate courts, judges of the county
courts at law, courts of domestic relations and
juvenile courts, retired justices and judges of
such courts, -ustices of the peace, retired jus-
tices of the jeace, and judges and magistrates
of the federal courts of this state.
(b) For the purposes of this section, a retired
judge of a county court, probate court, county
court at law, court of domestic relations, or
juvenile court o:r a retired justice of the peace is
a person who has an aggregate of at least 15 years
of service as judge of any court or courts or as
justice of the pi-ace and who has ceased to serve in
that capacity. The person is considered as retired
in the capacity ,tf last service. (Emphasis added).
Under this provision, a former justice of the peace who served at
least 15 years in that capacity is authorized to conduct marriage
ceremonies. You state that the incumbent justice of the peace meets
the 15 year qualification. Section 1.83 of the Family Code willp. 2482
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This text can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Text.
Texas. Attorney-General's Office. Texas Attorney General Opinion: JM-558, text, October 9, 1986; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth272998/m1/3/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.