Sec. 26.024.  APPOINTMENT TO SHARE BENCH.  (a)  The county judge may appoint a retired judge, former constitutional county judge, or a constitutional county judge from another county as a visiting judge to share the bench if the county judge finds that the dockets of the county court reflect a case load that the county judge considers to be in excess of that which can be disposed of properly in a manner consistent with the efficient administration of justice.
(b)  The visiting judge may share the bench for periods authorized by the commissioners court.
(c)  The visiting judge shall sit in those matters authorized by the county judge and has the powers of the county judge in relation to those matters.
(d)  The order appointing the visiting judge shall be noted on the docket of the court.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 480, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.  Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 811, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 782, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1388, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by: 
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 383 (H.B. 103), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2023.