TJCTC TEXAS CONSTABLE’S GUIDE TO CIVIL PROCESS TEXAS CONSTABLE’S GUIDE TO CIVIL PROCESS 6TH EDITION (2010) Published by the TEXAS JUSTICE COURT TRAINING CENTER Affiliated with Texas State University | San Marcos 701 Brazos Street, Suite 710 Austin, TX 78701 An educational endeavor of the Justices of the Peace & Constable Association of Texas, Inc. 2010 Revision TJCTC TEXAS CONSTABLE’S GUIDE TO CIVIL PROCESS This publication is funded by a grant from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The Texas Justice Court Training Center Previous Editions 1990, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2008 THE TEXAS CONSTABLE’S GUIDE TO CIVIL PROCESS IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL ELECTED TEXAS CONSTABLES. Revised by the Constable Education Committee. The staff of the Texas Justice Court Training Center, who provided legal review, technical support and production of this publication: Roger Rountree – Executive Director Heather Hidalgo – Civil Process Program Administrator Patricia F. Broline – Senior Program Attorney Angie Varela – Associate Director This publication is written by constables for constables. It is intended to provide constables with current and accurate information for successful performance of the constables’ many duties and responsibilities. The information in this book, however, may not be sufficient in dealing with a particular area of inquiry. Therefore, additional assistance may be necessary. Additional assistance is available from your elected constable or the Texas Justice Court Training Center. © Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by an information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission of the Texas Justice Court Training Center unless copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law. Address inquiries to: Permissions, Texas Justice Court Training Center, 701 Brazos Street, Suite 710, Austin, Texas, TX 78701. Rev. 10/2010 © Texas Justice Court Training Center (2010) Page i TJCTC TEXAS CONSTABLE’S GUIDE TO CIVIL PROCESS TABLE OF CONTENTS I. GENERAL DUTIES ...................................................................................................... 1 § 1.01 OFFICE OF CONSTABLE .................................................................................... 1 § 1.01.01 Creation of the Office ................................................................................... 1 § 1.01.02 Qualifications for Office ................................................................................ 2 § 1.01.03 Initial Training and Education for Constables .............................................. 3 § 1.02 FEE OFFICERS .................................................................................................... 4 § 1.03 BAILIFF ................................................................................................................ 5 § 1.03.01 Duties ..........................................................................................................5 § 1.03.02 Summoning Jurors—Drawing Names for Jury Lists .................................... 6 § 1.03.03 Use of Jury Lists .......................................................................................... 6 § 1.03.04 Summons for Jury Service on Election Day ................................................. 7 § 1.03.05 Summons Procedure for Jury Service by Sheriff or Constable .................... 7 §1.04 SUMMONING JURORS FOR JUSTICE COURT— Counties of 2.8 Million Population ............................................................................... 7 §1.04.01 Summoning perspective Jurors Directly to Justice Court .............................. 8 §1.04.02 If Jury is Incomplete ...................................................................................... 8 §1.05 CONSTABLES AS PEACE OFFICERS ................................................................ 8 §1.05.01 Peace Officer Duties and Powers ................................................................. 8 §1.05.01.01 Firearms Proficiency ................................................................................ 9 §1.05.02 Eligibility For Legislative Leave ................................................................... 10 §1.05.03 Payment for Appearance of Peace Officers Employed by County in Court or Administrative Proceedings ......................................................... 10 §1.05.04 Complaint Against Law Enforcement .......................................................... 11 §1.05.05 Termination Report Filed by Employing Agency ......................................... 12 §1.05.06 Terminated Officer’s Right to Copy of Report ............................................. 12 §1.05.07 Suspension of Officer’s License .................................................................. 14 §1.06 POTENTIAL GROUNDS OF LIABILITY FOR CONSTABLES ........................... 15 §1.06.01 Section 1983, Civil Rights Act of 1871 ........................................................ 15 §1.06.02 Tort Claims ................................................................................................. 18 §1.06.03 Civil Rights Violations by Elected Officials .................................................. 18 §1.06.04 Contributions to Elected Officials Cannot be Accepted in a Courthouse ................................................................................................ 19 §1.07 UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES ......................................................... 19 §1.08 OTHER STATUTORY LIABILITIES AND PENALTIES ...................................... 20 §1.08.01 Civil Process ............................................................................................... 20 Rev. 10/2010 © Texas Justice Court Training Center (2010) Page ii TJCTC TEXAS CONSTABLE’S GUIDE TO CIVIL PROCESS §1.08.02 Execution of Writs ....................................................................................... 21 §1.09 REMOVAL FROM OFFICE ................................................................................. 21 §1.09.01 Immediate Removal from Office ................................................................. 23 §1.10 POTENTIAL LIABILITY OF COUNTY, WHISTLEBLOWER ACT ...................... 23 FORM 1 Oath of Office .................................................................................................. 25 FORM 2 Official Statement (retained by Official) ........................................................... 26 II. CITATION .................................................................................................................. 27 §2.01 CITATION ............................................................................................................ 27 §2.01.01 Definition and Issuance .............................................................................. 27 §2.01.02 Requisites of a Citation ............................................................................... 27 §2.02 SERVICE ............................................................................................................. 29 §2.02.01 When Service may be Made ....................................................................... 29 §2.02.02 Who may Serve .......................................................................................... 29 §2.03 METHODS OF SERVICE .................................................................................... 30 §2.03.01 Personal Service ......................................................................................... 30 §2.03.02 Service of Citation by Mail .......................................................................... 31 §2.03.03 Service of Citation by Substituted Service .................................................. 31 §2.03.04 Service of Citation on a Business ............................................................... 32 §2.03.05 Service of Citation by Publication ............................................................... 36 §2.03.06 Service on Military Reservations ................................................................. 38 §2.03.07 Service on Financial Institutions ................................................................. 38 §2.04 RETURN OF SERVICE ....................................................................................... 38 §2.04.01 Requisites of Return on Personal Service .................................................. 38 §2.04.02 Return of Service by Mail ............................................................................ 39 §2.04.03 Return of Service by Substituted Service ................................................... 39 §2.04.04 Return of Service by Publication ................................................................. 40 §2.04.05 Return of Service on Unexecuted Citations ................................................ 40 FORM 3 Return of Service of Citation—In Person, by Mail, or Substituted Service....... 40 III. NOTICES .................................................................................................................. 43 §3.01 NOTICE TO SHOW CAUSE ................................................................................ 43 §3.01.01 Definition and Issuance .............................................................................. 43 §3.01.02 Requisites of Show Cause Orders .............................................................. 43 §3.01.03 Who May Serve Show Cause Orders ........................................................