The Attorney General of Texas
March 10, 1978
JOHN L. HILL
Attorney General
S”premecourt Building Honorable Joe Resweber Opinion No. H- 113 3
P.O.BOX12548
Austin.TX. 78711 County Attorney
512/475-2501 Harris County Courthouse Re: Legal advice and representation
Houston, Texas 77002 for Harris County Juvenile Board.
Dear Mr. Resweber:
Your office has in the past rendered legal advice and has represented
the Harris County Juvenile Board. You ask in essence whether you must
continue to do so in light of the enactment of the Family District Court Act,
V.T.C.S. art. 1926a, which converted domestic relations courts and special
juvenile courts to family district courts.
The Harris County Juvenile Board was established by article 5139VV,
V.T.C.S. It was composed of “the county judge, the judges of the juvenile
courts, a judge selected by the judges of those district-level courts hearing
primarily family law matters, a judge selected by the judges of those district
courts hearing primarily civil matters, and a judge selected by the judges of
those district-level courts hearing primarily criminal matters.” The Family
District Court Act expressly provides that the “Act does not affect the
composition or organization of any juvenile board . . . except that the judges
of the courts of domestic relations and of the juvenile courts are replaced by
the family district court judges.” V.T.C.S. art. 1926a, S 1.07(e).
The Harris County Juvenile Board could and did previously include
district-level judges in its membership and still does. The Family District
Court Act expressly disclaims any purpose to change the nature of juvenile
boards.
In our opinion, your duty to advise and represent the Board has not been
changed by the Act.
SUMMARY
The duty of the County Attorney of Harris County to
represent and advise the Harris County Juvenile Board
was not changed by the Family District Court Act.
P. 4620
Honorable Joe Resweber - Page 2 (H-1133)
Very truly yours,
rney General of Texas
APPROVED:
Opinion Committee
jst
p. 4621