Sec. 54.971.  APPOINTMENT.  (a)  The Commissioners Court of Travis County shall set the number of magistrates needed to perform the duties authorized by this subchapter.
(b)  The judges of the district courts subject to this subchapter shall, with the consent and approval of the Commissioners Court of Travis County, jointly appoint the magistrates that will assist the district courts.  Each magistrate's appointment under this subsection must be made with the unanimous approval of the judges of the district courts subject to this subchapter.
(c)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), if the number of magistrates is less than the number of the appointing judges, each magistrate shall serve equally in the courts of those judges.
(d)  The judges of the county courts at law subject to this subchapter shall, with the consent and approval of the Commissioners Court of Travis County, jointly appoint the magistrates that will assist the county courts at law.  Each magistrate's appointment under this subsection must be made with the unanimous approval of the judges of the county courts at law subject to this subchapter.
(e)  In addition to the requirements of Subsection (b) or (d), a magistrate appointed to assist only one court must be approved by the judge of that court.
Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 849, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1991.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 979, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.