What is a JP? Here are a few facts about what the JP duties entail

•  The JP  serves as the County Cororner.
• JP's hear three kinds of civil lawsuits: justice civil ($10,000 limit), evictions, and small claims ($10,000 limit)
• You DO NOT have to be an attorney to hold this office. There is only a very small percentage of JP's  in Texas that hold a law degree.  Of the eight JPs in Brazoria County, none are attorneys.
• JP courts are designed to be the people's court: common sense prevails, less formal setting, costs kept to a minimum.

Description of Office  (Provided by the Texas Association of Counties)

The Justice of the Peace is the legal jurisdiction closest to the average citizen.

Section 19 of Article 5 of the Texas Constitution provides that: justice of the peace courts have original jurisdiction in criminal matters of misdemeanor cases punishable by fine only and such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law. Original jurisdiction is the authority to accept a case at its inception, try it and pass judgment based upon the laws and facts. This is distinguished from appellate jurisdiction, which is jurisdiction to review a court's action. The justice of the peace performs the functions of a magistrate and conducts inquests.   A justice of the peace may issue warrants for search and arrest, conduct preliminary hearings, administers oaths, perform marriages and serve as a coroner in counties where there is no provision for a medical examiner. The justice court also functions as a small claims court and the amount in controversy does not exceed $10,000. They can also deal with  matters concerning foreclosures of mortgages and enforcement of liens on personal property.

The small claims court often is filled with difficult and unique situations. Frequently it is someone just trying to collect on accounts receivable, or trying to get a redress for bad workmanship. The monetary amount involved is small, and people do not want to throw good money after bad by hiring an attorney. It is important that the citizens of precinct two feel able to represent themselves. These courts are designed to be a less formal venue where common sense will prevail. Paperwork is kept simple and fees low. The rules of small claims court are different than in other court settings. The judge has an opportunity to play an active role by asking questions and acting as mediator. In order to perform this role well it is imperative that the Justice of the Peace have experience in business, experience with people, and an innate desire to serve the community.

People from all walks of life come into the Justice of the Peace Courts as victims, defendants, criminals, or neighbors. The people of Brazoria County expect the Justice of the Peace to not only honor their rights, but to treat them with the respect they deserve. They expect the Justice of the Peace to take the time to evaluate each case, examine the individual attributes with objective impartiality, and make sound judgments according to the constitution and laws of the State of Texas and the United States. The people of Brazoria County expect the Justice of the Peace to serve the people by preserving the peace, and function with fiscally sound court operations.