Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

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