OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
AUSTIN
GROVER
SELLERS
ATTORNEY
QENCRAL
Honorrblo CherlO8 Ii. Thaob8ld
County Attemw
G.1n.t.a wuntr
oelvo.ton, Tour
our opinior on th.
at it8 ngul4r
01. 4 p.g. 253)
ml0n r0r
tt.. oontaning
d not Eon than 100,000
the 16.t &il%WdiIl6$?*dWal
thrlv lr no dirtriot at-
ornoy porrorma the but108
4 618trlot .ttornoy. (chhptor
thr oounty at-
o ua ty
ll6tub -
rldlthazwron t& laulr l ppllaclblo
8h m u o o d mo wn la l 88mb.r of tha Yortp
ialaturo nprrrunting Oclv88tOn County
whl.h ,o*otod th. rbtoto rbi0-0a toa
whartly I rul ham mm v8oen.i~.or arri8knt.
in thla oifior and Mr. Breua lr anxlour to bo appoinkb
.I 60. OS tb, ~...l.t.nt. and X .m lg no a b to
lolp oint-
lng him and it 18 hl. lnkntlon to rrrigc~hlr A.6i81.0
tiv. po.ltlm la LJi.lr ent h. 1. lULi(Stble t@ b. •~
p o inte& la a ia tawnt
a . ma ty
lttornay en& y objort Fo
Eon. Charles ii.Th@obold, page 2
writing you is to rvrpottully request your opinion
lr ho lo 8llglblo In rlos ot th. prorlolon of Artiolo
3, iMotion 18 of th. Gtoto Con~tltution.
'1 toko tho libmrtg ot onolo8ine 0 oopy of M
opinion i3003-A written by the Ho.. William ~.obrou,tho
then attomoy Qonorol 0r Texas, on AU&tiOt26th 1937.
As you on lu8re on l88lotoat oounty lttornoy Ia ro-
quir0d to kk0 th0 0rri0i0i 00th OS 0rri00.
*I rlll bo vary gntotul to gou it you rlU. klidly
. odrt.. PI ii EF. 13r~i~ni. lli&lblo t. be OppOintOd On
088i8t8nt oountr lttornoy otter his ro8lgnotion 00 0
mmbor 0r tha Forty-ninth Lo~iol0tux-e.~
Artiolo 331 of Vernon*8
htmototod Gilil St8tutoo nods 08
r0110w.1
m ooth. and Op~intment. alull b. XWOOrdOd and
dewoltod in the oouaty al.rk*8 0rri00.w (undorrooring
ouio)
at, 3902 of Y. A. C. S., &WNidO. in part 8. fOll‘JW:
q#ha.ver any dlatriot. oounty or rmoiaot orrioor
ghglf reatiro tho oervioeo Of d.DUtl.8. SSSiotSnt. or
olerkg ln tho ~erromonoo ot his dutlo. ho oh011 OPPXX
10 the COiUItYcOSUni88iOner8'court of hza ocw%tY for
autmrity to ODDOiAt lUOh doPutl.8. . ..i.tont.* or
olerks. stating by 8WOm ODRliOSti@O thS QuabSr nS*dSdv
Iho ,,,,.ltlato bo tllle4 and the amOUnt to b. mida soid
applioatlon shall k OOOOmROnlOd by l ..tftmSnt .bowti
tiii&WObOble rOO.~~t. t?Om tOS8, O--loll 1. on6 ooiapon-
10 the ri.001
ration to bo oolleotod by sold ottloo durio-
DrObOblS d~sbumoiamtr which .holl in&ado
373
‘I
lion. Char168 U. Theobald, ME. 3
no ooae 8h.11 the Conmi88lonor8~ Court or on$ as&or
thrroot lttOJRtoR lnSluen.0
t th. oppoiatimat 0s oIl#
parson 08 doputp 08810tont or olark kr w otrp.
UDon the entry 0i buoh ordrr thr orri0ors asp4 g
for 8uOh l881 8t0nt8. aoputieb or olerks amu ba
authorload to lDDO~t thomt n'Wid8d th St801 QO 4 m-
pnaotloa b h o ll
not axo@bd th8 ~lLLoul MOtW bor8in-
otter I(rt out, Th. oOiaWm88tion whloh may be OUowed
to the dOwti88, oo~otont8 or 018rka o.ovo noaoa for
their oorvloo8 lhell bo 0 r8OsOIiOble one. not to oxoeed
>hO fOuOWmK OSOulltbt
"h. In aountlr. having 0 popul.tlon 0s sixty
thou00n4 and one 60,001) and not more thOn one ~hundnd
thouoon(l (100,000 inhobltontr, first assistant or
0u0r beDutY not to orore hrntr-rour ffundred[&&OO.OO)-
Dollars par 8nnui~; Othero88lotont8
our 0 inion NO. O-5893 hold that 'Artioles 331 and 3902
must be eonsi ddrod and oonotruod togmthor.m W quota from 8aid
opinion as rouow0r
*Art1010 331, Veraon*a Annototwl Civil 3totute8,
provides, In Orrr0t, that oountg ottorney8, by oon..nt
of tha OOa.i%..~on.C.'oOuTt, 8hol.lhavc powor to 8p-
pOht iII Writing one or more 088i8tMt8, not t6 oroood
arms, for the&r ro8~otlre oouatlea, rho sb.oLl hon
thtasaw powers,l uthorlt~ sad qu8liri00tio2ib 08 their
prinolpolr, at uhhooowill thoy,@Loll hold 0rri00. Ar-
tiole 331 uoo OnSated in 1891, 06d Opplied Or@ to tho
l~~OintDUBt 0s o.oi.toat OOUntJ lttoraep8. utio10
3902, vimaon*a Annototad ClriL Btatut*o, 08
omendrd,
is later ltotutm
0 xwgordlng the sppointumat 0s deputies,
orsiotonto or o&rib br Patriot, oouaty or preoinot ot-
tiorrs. Artlol.. 331 an& 3902 must b OOAbiCtO~dMd
oonrtruod together, In rior of those statutes, it is
OUT OpiIkiOn,that O88iOtOnt8 Of th* COUitY AttOXWY Of
nuI;,“,“nty must bo oppolatad in oompUoaoo with 8.14
Conoldwln togothor,
tb it 18
two rtotuteo
0~ ORkriOa, thrt itbi0t3mi0n 0s tb
f 8 ahin tbr
oommis8ionero~ to dotav&n* the numbor 0s l0018-
court
tonto to bo l ~~Ob lt#d,
00 in th. dlsorrtion Of OOid
oourt mey b8 prolw. St0t.d another WOy, tit&St RPftiM
tioo.Ghorlo8 ;i.Theobald, page o
0s art1010 331 lloitlng the number or o8olstanto that
amy bo appolntrd lo no longor oppllcoble, hoimrer,ths
other portions or krtiolo 331 ore sppii0Oblo 0fiatb
a8al8tsat8 auat oomp4 with thr ~rorlalon8 0s said
statute."
The aorty-ninth LsgiolotUr. (Senate Bill MO. 123 page 244)
amended ATtlole 3902, oupro, by adding theret th8 rolfowing~
"9. The Commisrion~rr~ COui?t la heroby outhorlzed,
whoa in their judgment the tinonolol ooadition or tha
oounty sad the a.oaa 0s the d.pUti.8, o..l.tonto and
olrrkr 0s 04 dlotriot, oounty or pmOinOt orrlolrr&AD-
Tho Party-ninth Legl8loture ols0 poosed q,ouae Bill Ro. 798
and provided that the prorialona of said Aot should be oumilatlve
of ;rrtlole 3902, V. A. c. 9.
WI quote from Ii. B. wo. 798 as ~ollowa:
*El. a. 130. 798
*Aa Aot providing tor thr oppointmbnt of 08e18tant oounty
ottorney8 in countle8 horin. 0 population or sixty
thousand and one (60,001) and not loore than on. &ua-
ared thouo8n6 (100,000) inhabitants oooording to tJm
lost preoedlng Pederol Can8u8 ln aouutlor where there
la not a dl8triot ottornayand in oountfoa when tho
oounty attorney perform the duties or oouaty ottornay
and dlatrlot attorneyiprOVi6i.W ror thr moth04 or
thmir oppolntaontj prorldlng ror their oomp.nootionj
prwldlng for cwtola roporto ah4 opplioati0ho; pro-
riabg th8 pzvvl8ion8 0s thla hot ore oumulrtloe or
Artlole 3902, ~evl~ed Civil stotutoo of TMOO, 1925,
and deolaring on liiwrgenoy~
Ceotlon 1, I,oOu owotle. Of this State having0
population or sixty thouoond and oao (60,001) and not more
than on. hundred thousand (100,000) lhhsbltsnts, aooord4
t0 th. last preoedlng Ioderol Census, tho OoUaty 8ttOm.Yo
Eon. Charlea ii. Theobald, page 5
in lwh oouotlea whIoh do not have a 6IatrIot attorney,
an& wham thr o o unty lttornoy parfornu the dutloa of
oouaty rttorwy ana aibtriot attorney, th0 00unty at-
torney in ruoh countlab 8hall apply to the oounty oom
aiaaIonera~ oourt of hi8 oounty for authority ta appotnt
luoh laalatant o o ua ty lttornoya 18 h8 may mpulm in the
p0rrormmoo 0r hi8 autfeb be lueh oounty attorney stating
by aworn 8pplloatIon tha number n00aaa, the poaltion to
be fIlla bAa the amount to be pbia. ,%a16 applicmtlon
ahall ba loocwqmnlaa by a rtataaent ahowing t!m probable
rooOiptr- frop rb08, oommlaalana ma oocnpmaatIon to b0
oolleoted by raid orriae during th0 rlaoal year ana tha
probable dlaburuaenta whloh ahall inolubo all ulatioa
*8eo. 2. Tha provlaIo5a 0r this liot am ouaulatIvr
or Artdole 3902 Of tha ;iWfard Civil Statute‘
oi Telab of
1925, aa ibii0naea. And In nonlaa ahall b0 005bia~r0a aa a
liraitrtlon05 the other powwe aAa authority or tha Coni-
iulaalonera~Court therain pmaoribod.
5soo. 3. The rb0t that there ia not now any air-
tlnotlon In the aalarlea iOr aaaIatant oounty attorney8
In oountlra harlng a oounty attorney prfo?sIrq the
autka or a oowtg attorney aa a dfbtrfot attorney
irent thoaa oountlea havI5g oount attor5aya perro66
tha dutira OS oouuty attornsy 05 iy, In oountlem when
then la now a dirtrlot attorney perrolming the autiea
0r ruoh, ana the forthar rO0t or the orowaeaoondition
0r the oalandar oreats a n r no r g sno ybAa l5 Iaperativr
publlo nroerrfty @bat ths COnbtitutiORbl ati8 FbqUirin6
bulb to bo read 011 thna l~rral daya in 8bOh EOUH bb
aw~ndod, and the aamd la horuby bUbpAab&, and that thib
A0t ahau ta k l r00t and b0 in r0r0a rrorn 8ad arter its
e
perugo, anil it I8 80 0-0t0a.*
A oaretul rvaafng or the 19kO Federal Conaua reveal8 that
tha proriaiona of the laat puotsd Act am epplloablLeto Qalvaafon,
aU000b, s;psfth, G~VIJ~OA, C(IBA0IOn and ZiiOhitb COWtieD.
376
Bon. Charlob8. Thoobalb, pas@ ‘6
To aotwul5e whether bm Brownla l llglbla ror thm 0rri00
$0 whloh ho aaplrma, wm iwmt now look to the Coaatitution or thll
State; Artlolm IU, smatlon 18 or the Tmsar uonatItution reada
; I5 part aa roilmn
The qentloa'that w mrmt now OOAoiaS? la whmthmrthe mnolu-
‘~unto or the wi0e or tralatuit Count Athrnoy or Gmlvmaton
~~~ty&xam~ hmrm bmmn iaoraaard dur the tmra ot Reprsaenta-
trortdkbUt0 bfX.~O-, We brm leaPliOdthsth@
la dealroo; 0r beln6Hrat AaaIatant Cou&tyAttOrAby 0r aria
CouEtY.
Prior to tha Aota or the 69th Lmgtalature, Rqubr seaaIon,
1945, the salary oi the Plrat Aaalatant Couaty Attommy Of Gal-
veston County oauldnot rxoeed the luai ot $2,400.90 pr anma.
(Se8 SOOT Co Ark 3902, V. A c . s., luprm.) Thb C9th LagIal.a-
tura mnimnamd Art. 3902, luprme,by SadiAg thoreto t;ootIon9, and
bald saotlon wotia ba appliooblo to the salary or the ylrmt
AaaiataAtCounty or Qalrsaton County uora It not ror
AttOrAey the
raot that tho aasn Lagimlrtwe al80 emoted Ii. B. kio. 796. Thm
lastwAtIoE~d hot, whloh la lppltoabla to Galrmmton County,
provlaea thmt thm o0qmnaatlon 0r Aamiatmnt qounty htpnc;
*hell not lr a r r ;23600.00
d per roar. p oareful 8tuQlr
or then above atatutaa mwmlb th Coaalaalonarm~ court wan
authorltad by the LeRlaZotu3?at0 WCthO lalmrlra Or namlm~ant
puntx AttorAeXb not to lxoeoa omrtmlnasxLmwik
miDDunt*.
IA OMAeOtiOA with th8 lmbt StatWbnt w Oal& your OttOn-
tlon to thm oaa8 0r sari AstonI va. Jonea,20 Tms. 32, whenin
tha oourt ~141
loglal.atura nimf grant muthorltr
vyia aa umll aa
give OQJMUA~B, Mid aOt8 dOnO UUdW it8 lUthO~~tr am
a@ validbe ii doneln obrdleno~ to ita oonuaandm. &Or
i* a *tat&o, whoam l oaplrta mxaarrtloaana appllaatlon
eot mmttmr I8 by it8 provlafaaa mada to
ho mamrAt or Do50 other body, 8 dale6atIon
br le~lalmtlrrpmrrr Tha diboretioD &ixwm to thm
lxmroiaa OS thm po*rr aonf~md by the lmw but net
to ato the law itarlr.* (Thin dootrlno oitad with
approval in JohnroE Va. Martin, 12 9. tie 321 aAd
st8plea va. ua50 Cowrty, 211 s. 8. 569, and roil0d
Ln stat0 iiiyhway3apt. va. Gorhaa, 162 Sa W. (26) 9%)
. ,’
377
iion.Charlesii.Tbobald, plrer7
Thus, uadort@8 hOl&ia& Ot the BbOVb ait+ baam WMt~Ver
amount the ConnnlaaIonera~ court flxmm 48 thm amlarg of the Tlrat
Ammiatbnt County httornoy or Gmllmmton Gounty Is rirea by tIrtu*
or bAa under authority of an bat or tha legIalaturm, ana muoh
lmcwt 80 ilrmd by lbglalstiva authority is mqulvblbnt to, or la
aa ?a114 aa if tlxbd In obedienoe to a bpbolrlo lagialatlvm ooin-
BMAd.
In rlow or,tha lomgOIng
authorltlea wo think that II tha
Court
CctaadaaIonara~ of Gmlvomton
CountJ Ilua thb salary ot thm
Ilrmt Aaaiatant County Attornmy at a bum in l x o ea a of the mrxlinufa
amount prorldea ror In sro, 4 or hrt. 3902, lup r a , ( ;;24 00 .00
per
aaacu) then the lawlumm~ta of the Ofiiw would be lnoraaaed by
vlrtuo 0r ‘A Aot paaaed by the 49th L8gIalatara 0r whloh tir. BrOmn
wan a imrnb*rrstated aAothmr ray, Ir’tho Co6nm&malokorm~ Court or
GalvmmtoA oounty lnorbaaoa the ablbry ror thb orrioa or Piret
AaaImtant county AttOImy 0r da Gounty in **ebb or 32400.00 per
year, It la oar opinion that tbm un&rlinaa portlana 0r Sec. 18 or
Art1010 111 uolrld runder Hr. Brolm i.nrl1gibl.a ror amid 0rri00, FIFIA
though ha might malgn aa a aambet or thm Lsgialrture. ~owover, tr
the ComaImalonara~ court Zlrba the salary of the lflrat AaalmtaAt
County Attorney at $Y+GOrOG per a~~ua, or lean, then It la our
opinion that Kr, Brown oould rmmlgn em a uwaber or the Leglblaturb
ena qualiry ror bald 0rri0h
I Your8 very truly,
4 ‘,. I~<; .-, ,’
* v r pi’
, By. ]‘“.w+)l *
JCDILJ i-.; ,. , J. 0. Dbvla, Jr*
Aaalatant