Criminal Law Hearing Officer

Criminal Law Hearing Officer

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Houston, TX

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

16862

Department

Office of County Court Management

Opening Date

06/22/2026

Closing Date

7/22/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits

Position Description

Position Overview:

The Criminal Law Hearing Officer serves as magistrate in the Harris County Probable Cause Court. This Court operates as a 24/7 operation located in the Harris County Joint Processing Center. Criminal Law Hearing Officers are independent judicial officers regarding the cases/defendants that appear before them. Criminal Law Hearing Officers take general direction from the Criminal Law Hearing Officer. Criminal Law Hearing Officers are appointed by the statutory Criminal Law Hearing Officer Committee.

Statutory Duties:

Criminal Law Hearing Officer will staff hearings on a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week schedule. A criminal law hearing officer has limited concurrent jurisdiction over criminal cases filed in the district courts, county criminal courts at law, and justice courts of Harris County. The jurisdiction of the criminal law hearing officer is limited to:

• Determine probable cause for further detention of any person detained on a criminal complaint, information or indictment filed in the district courts, county criminal courts at law, or justice courts of Harris County;
• Commit the defendant to jail, discharge the defendant from custody, or admit the defendant to bail, as the law and facts of the case require;
• Timely issue search warrants and arrest warrants as provided by law for magistrates;
• As to criminal cases filed in justice courts, dispose of cases as provided by law, other than by trial, and collect fines and enforce judgments and orders of the justice courts in criminal cases;
• Hear emergency mental health matters under Chapter 573, Health and Safety Code.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Must be a resident of Harris County, Texas;

• Must have been licensed to practice law in Texas for at least five (5) years;

• Must not have been defeated for reelection to a judicial office;

• Must not have been removed from office:

• by impeachment, by the Supreme Court, by the Governor on address to the legislature;

• by the legislature's abolition of the judge's court;

• by resigning from office after having received notice that formal proceedings by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct had been instituted as provided in Section 33.022, Government Code, and before the final disposition of the proceedings.

• Must abide by all requirements as set forth in the Canons of Judicial Conduct.

Details and Instructions to Apply:

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General Information

Details and Instructions to Apply:

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Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Regular Full-time
• Hours will be discussed during departmental interview.

Salary:

• Depends on Qualifications
• Based on 26 Pay Periods
• Plus, benefits

Employment is contingent upon passing a background check and drug screen.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.

The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:

Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*
• Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the Countys behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:

www.benefitsathctx.com

Employer Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx