What happens to a Texas constable when redistricting abolishes his precinct?

Plain-English summary

When a county redraws its justice of the peace and constable precincts, an elected constable can suddenly find that the precinct he was elected to serve no longer exists. The chair of the Texas House County Affairs Committee asked the Attorney General what happens to that constable. The concrete facts came from Bexar County: in August 2001 the commissioners court redrew the lines, abolished constable precinct five, and placed the precinct five constable into precinct one, which already had its own elected constable. So precinct one temporarily had two constables.

The Attorney General concluded that the displaced constable keeps his office. A 1983 amendment to article V, section 18 of the Texas Constitution provides that when precinct boundaries change, each constable serves out the term for which he was elected in the precinct where he resides, even if the change abolishes his old precinct or temporarily results in extra constables serving in one precinct. That was a change from older law: before the amendment, the Texas Supreme Court had held that constables removed by redrawn boundaries had no claim even to salary for the unserved part of their terms.

Beyond confirming the constable kept his job, the opinion answered the practical questions. His duties did not change: a constable is a peace officer under the Code of Criminal Procedure and carries the duties chapter 86 of the Local Government Code assigns, including executing process and attending justice court. With two constables in one precinct, the opinion read the attend-justice-court duty to be satisfied if one of the two attends each session. The deputies of the abolished precinct did not automatically move with the constable; to have deputies, he had to apply to the commissioners court, which approves the appointment only if it finds the constable needs a deputy for the precinct's business, and he could direct only his own approved deputies, not the other constable's. His salary and expenses were still set by the commissioners court under chapter 152 of the Local Government Code, the same way as before. The opinion acknowledged that dividing the actual work between two constables with identical powers raised practical issues the statutes did not resolve.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 2002. Subsequent statutory amendments, court decisions, or later Attorney General opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current legal advice. Verify current law before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or remedy mentioned here.

What the opinion meant for those who asked

A constable whose precinct was abolished by redistricting (what the opinion held for him): The opinion concluded that under article V, section 18(c) he served out his elected term in the precinct where he resides, with his legal duties and powers unchanged, even though it temporarily meant two constables in one precinct.

The county commissioners court (what the opinion held for it): The opinion treated the commissioners court as continuing to set the displaced constable's salary and expenses under chapter 152, and as the body that must approve any deputies he sought under section 86.011, only on a finding that the precinct's business required them.

The House County Affairs Committee, which asked (the scope of the answer): The opinion answered the specific questions about duties, deputies, and salary, and acknowledged that allocating the day-to-day work between two equally empowered constables in one precinct was a practical matter the statutes left unresolved.

Common questions

Does a Texas constable lose his job if redistricting abolishes his precinct?
No. Under this opinion and article V, section 18(c) of the Texas Constitution, he serves out the term he was elected to, in the precinct where he resides, even if his old precinct no longer exists.

Can two constables end up serving in the same precinct?
Yes, at least temporarily. The opinion explained that the constitution expressly allows a change of boundaries to result in extra constables serving in a precinct until the terms run out.

Do the displaced constable's deputies move with him?
Not automatically. The opinion concluded he had to apply to the commissioners court for deputies under section 86.011(a), and the court approves them only if it finds he needs a deputy for the precinct's business. He could direct only his own approved deputies.

Who sets the constable's salary after the precinct change?
The commissioners court, under chapter 152, Subchapter B of the Local Government Code, at the appropriate point in the county budget cycle, the same way it did before the boundaries were redrawn.

Background and statutory framework

Article V, section 18(a) of the Texas Constitution lets the commissioners court divide a county into precincts, with the number tied to the county's population, and provides that ordinarily one justice of the peace and one constable are elected in each precinct to a four-year term. Tex. Const. art. V, § 18(a); see State ex rel. Dowlen v. Rigsby, 17 Tex. Civ. App. 171, 43 S.W. 271 (Tex. Civ. App. 1897), writ ref'd, 91 Tex. 351, 43 S.W. 1101 (Tex. 1897) per curiam (commissioners court may redraw precinct boundaries for the convenience of the people).

When lines are redrawn, some officers may no longer reside in the precincts they were elected to. See Harris County Comm'rs Court v. Moore, 420 U.S. 77 (1975) (abstention in a suit by displaced justices of the peace and constables). Under older law, the Texas Supreme Court held in Tarrant County v. Ashmore, 635 S.W.2d 417, 421 (Tex. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1038 (1982), that justices of the peace and constables removed by redrawn boundaries had no claim for salaries for the unserved portion of their terms. A 1983 amendment to article V, section 18 changed that result. It provides that, when boundaries change, each justice and constable in office or elected to a term "serve[s] in the precinct in which the person resides for the term to which each was elected or appointed," even if the change places the person's residence outside the precinct, abolishes the precinct, or temporarily results in extra justices or constables serving in a precinct, and that a vacancy created by a boundary change is filled by commissioners-court appointment until the next general election. Tex. Const. art. V, § 18(c); Act of May 19, 1983, 68th Leg., R.S., 1983 Tex. Gen. Laws 6721, 6722; see also Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 81.021(b) (Vernon 1999) (preserving the officer's term when a boundary change places the residence outside the precinct).

A constable's duties did not change. A constable is a peace officer under article 2.12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and carries the powers and duties statutes assign peace officers. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 2.12(2) (Vernon Supp. 2002); see also id. arts. 2.13, 6.05-.07 (Vernon 1997 & Supp. 2002). Chapter 86 of the Local Government Code sets out a constable's specific duties, including executing and returning each process, warrant, and precept directed to him, and attending each justice court in the precinct. Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 86.021(a) (Vernon Supp. 2002); see also Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 81.022(a) (Vernon 1999); Tex. R. Civ. P. 15 (Vernon 1979). With two constables in one precinct, the opinion concluded it would be consistent with section 86.021 if one of the two attends each justice court.

On deputies, the opinion explained that article V, section 18 does not move the former precinct's deputies into the new precinct, so a constable who wants deputies must apply to the commissioners court under section 86.011(a), which approves the appointment only on a finding that the constable needs a deputy for the precinct's business; he then has the usual authority over his own deputies but not over the other constable's. Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 86.011(a), (b), (c) (Vernon 1999). On salary, a constable's pay and expenses are set by the commissioners court under chapter 152, Subchapter B, at the appropriate point in the budget cycle, regardless of which precinct he serves. Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 152.011-.013 (Vernon 1999); see Ector County v. Stringer, 843 S.W.2d 477, 479 (Tex. 1992); Vondy v. Comm'rs Court of Uvalde County, 714 S.W.2d 417 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.).

Citations

Constitutional, statutory, and rule provisions:

• Tex. Const. art. V, § 18(a)
• Tex. Const. art. V, § 18(c)
• Act of May 19, 1983, 68th Leg., R.S., 1983 Tex. Gen. Laws 6721, 6722
• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 2.12(2) (Vernon Supp. 2002)
• Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Ann. arts. 2.13, 6.05-.07 (Vernon 1997 & Supp. 2002)
• Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 86.021(a) (Vernon Supp. 2002)
• Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 86.011(a), (b), (c) (Vernon 1999)
• Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 81.021(b) (Vernon 1999)
• Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 81.022(a) (Vernon 1999)
• Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. §§ 152.011-.013 (Vernon 1999)
• Tex. R. Civ. P. 15 (Vernon 1979)

Cases:

• State ex rel. Dowlen v. Rigsby, 17 Tex. Civ. App. 171, 43 S.W. 271 (Tex. Civ. App. 1897), writ ref'd, 91 Tex. 351, 43 S.W. 1101 (Tex. 1897) per curiam
• Harris County Comm'rs Court v. Moore, 420 U.S. 77 (1975)
• Tarrant County v. Ashmore, 635 S.W.2d 417, 421 (Tex. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1038 (1982)
• Ector County v. Stringer, 843 S.W.2d 477, 479 (Tex. 1992)
• Vondy v. Comm'rs Court of Uvalde County, 714 S.W.2d 417 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.)

Source

• Landing page: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/opinions/john-cornyn/jc-0462
• Original PDF: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/opinion-files/opinion/2002/jc0462.pdf

Original opinion text

Best-effort transcription from the official scanned PDF. Minor character-level errors from the source OCR have been corrected; the linked PDF is authoritative.

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL - STATE OF TEXAS

JOHN CORNYN

February 12, 2002

The Honorable Tom Ramsay
Chair, County Affairs Committee
Texas House of Representatives
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, Texas 78768-2910

Opinion No. JC-0462

Re: Effect on a constable's duties when his precinct is abolished by redistricting (RQ-0432-JC)

Dear Representative Ramsay:

You inquire about the duties of a constable whose precinct was abolished as a result of redistricting and who has been reassigned to another precinct in which an elected constable serves. Article V, section 18(c) of the Texas Constitution provides that a constable serves out his term in the precinct in which he resides, even though the precinct to which he was elected was abolished by a change of boundaries or his continued service temporarily results in extra constables serving in a precinct. The constable's legal duties and powers are not changed by the change of boundaries, and the commissioners court continues to set his salary and expenses and to approve the appointment of his deputies as it did before the precinct boundaries were redrawn.

You inform us that the Bexar County Commissioners Court recently accomplished a redistricting of the justice of the peace and constable precincts.[1] The constable of precinct five was elected to a four-year term in the year 2000 and his term began in 2001. Longoria Letter, supra note 1, at 1. In August of 2001, the commissioners court redrew the precinct boundary lines, effectively abolishing constable precinct five, and placed the constable of precinct five in precinct one. Id. The court then designated the constable of precinct one as the constable of the newly drawn precinct one in Bexar County. Id. Your questions relate to the duties of the constable elected to the abolished precinct five.

Article V, section 18(a) authorizes the commissioners court of each county to divide the county into precincts, the number of precincts depending upon the population classification applicable to the county. Id. § 18(a) (i.e., counties with a population of 50,000 or more shall be divided into not less than four and not more than eight precincts, counties with a population of 18,000 or more but less than 50,000 shall be divided into not less than two and not more than eight precincts). Under this provision, the commissioners court may redraw precinct boundaries as needed for the convenience of the people. State ex rel. Dowlen v. Rigsby, 17 Tex. Civ. App. 171, 43 S.W. 271 (Tex. Civ. App. 1897), writ ref'd, 91 Tex. 351, 43 S.W. 1101 (Tex. 1897) per curiam. With certain exceptions, one justice of the peace and one constable are elected in each precinct to a four-year term of office. See TEX. CONST. art. V, § 18(a) (circumstances where two or more justices of the peace may be elected in a precinct).

When the commissioners court redraws precinct lines, some of the county's commissioners, justices of the peace and constables may no longer reside in the precincts to which they were elected. See Harris County Comm'rs Court v. Moore, 420 U.S. 77 (1975) (abstention doctrine invoked in suit by justices of the peace and constables displaced by boundary changes because of unsettled state law issues). The Texas Supreme Court determined in Tarrant County v. Ashmore, 635 S.W.2d 417, 421 (Tex. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1038 (1982), that justices of the peace and constables who were removed from office by the redrafting of precinct boundary lines had no claim for salaries for the unserved portion of their terms. However, article V, section 18 of the Texas Constitution as amended now provides that a justice of the peace or constable whose precinct is abolished by the redrafting of precinct lines will serve out the term for which he or she was elected. See TEX. CONST. art. V, § 18(c).

Pursuant to a 1983 amendment, article V, section 18 of the Texas Constitution provides that when the boundaries of the precincts are changed, each justice and constable in office or elected to a term of office shall

serve in the precinct in which the person resides for the term to which each was elected or appointed, even though the change in boundaries places the person's residence outside the precinct for which he was elected or appointed, abolishes the precinct for which he was elected or appointed, or temporarily results in extra Justices or Constables serving in a precinct. When, as a result of a change of precinct boundaries, a vacancy occurs in the office of Justice of the Peace or Constable, the Commissioners Court shall fill the vacancy by appointment until the next general election.

TEX. CONST. art. V, § 18(c); Act of May 19, 1983, 68th Leg., R.S., 1983 Tex. Gen. Laws 6721, 6722 (adopted Nov. 8, 1983); 1985 Tex. Gen. & Spec. Laws, Votes on Proposed Amends. to Texas Constitution 1875-1985, App., at C-19. Other sections of this amendment authorize certain counties to have fewer justices of the peace and constable precincts than formerly. See Fiscal Note, H.J.R. No. 91, 68th Leg., R.S. (1983). Subsection 18(c) provides for a transition in office for justices of the peace, constables, and county commissioners each time their precinct boundaries are changed. See Tex. Leg. Council Info. Rep. No. 83-4, Analysis of Proposed Constitutional Amendments Appearing on Nov. 8, 1983 Ballot, at 8 (Aug. 1983); see also Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 81.021(b) (Vernon 1999) (preserving the term of office of commissioner, justice of the peace, or constable when a precinct boundary change places the officer's residence outside the precinct for which he or she was elected); Tex. Att'y Gen. LO-93-45 (when precinct boundaries are changed, article V, section 18(c) of the Texas Constitution requires that each incumbent will serve in the new precinct in which he or she resides on the effective date of the change).

The constable of former precinct five and the elected constable of precinct one are now both serving in precinct one. Your questions relate to the rights and duties of the constable of former precinct five in his new precinct.

You first ask what the constable's duties are as constable of precinct one. No provision of law changes a constable's duties in a precinct where two constables are temporarily serving because of a boundary change. A constable is a peace officer within article 2.12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and therefore has the various powers and duties assigned by statute to peace officers. See TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 2.12(2) (Vernon Supp. 2002); see also id. arts. 2.13 (duties of peace officers); 6.05-.07 (Vernon 1997 & Supp. 2002) (prevention of threatened injuries and deaths). Chapter 86 of the Local Government Code sets out the duties specifically required of constables. Section 86.021 of the Local Government Code requires a constable to execute and return "each process, warrant, and precept that is directed to the constable and is delivered by a lawful officer." See TEX. LOC. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 86.021(a) (Vernon Supp. 2002); see also id. (b)-(d) (additional responsibilities in service of process). Each constable in precinct one is authorized to serve the papers directed to him by a district or county court, see TEX. R. CIV. PROC. 15 (Vernon 1979), or by the commissioners court, see TEX. LOC. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 81.022(a) (Vernon 1999). Section 86.021 also provides that the constable "shall attend each justice court held in the precinct." Id. § 86.021(e). In the usual case, there is one constable in each justice precinct, and one constable will attend each justice court in the precinct. See TEX. CONST. art. V, § 18(a) (one justice of the peace and one constable elected in each precinct, except that in precincts and counties with certain population characteristics, two or more justices may be elected). We believe it will be consistent with section 86.021 of the Local Government Code if one of the two constables in precinct one attends each justice court in precinct one. See generally Tex. Att'y Gen. LO-98-101 (constable must attend each session of justice court, whatever may be the purpose for which the court is sitting).

You ask what rights and responsibilities the constable has in directing the activities of deputies in the "new" precinct. Article V, section 18 of the Texas Constitution does not provide that the deputy constables in the former precinct five will serve in precinct one with the elected constable. Accordingly, if the constable of former precinct five wishes to have a deputy or deputies subordinate to him, he must apply to the commissioners court pursuant to section 86.011(a) of the Local Government Code, showing that it is necessary to appoint a deputy to handle the business of the precinct and stating the name of the proposed deputy in the application. See TEX. LOC. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 86.011(a) (Vernon 1999). The commissioners court "shall approve and confirm the appointment of the deputy only if the commissioners court determines that the constable needs a deputy to handle the business originating in the precinct." Id. If the commissioners court authorizes a deputy for the constable, the constable will have the usual rights and responsibilities in directing the activities of that deputy. See id. § 86.011(b), (c); see also 35 David B. Brooks, County and Special District Law § 20.10 (Texas Practice 1989 & Supp. 2001). He will not have a right to direct the activities of deputies assigned to the other constable of precinct one.

You ask what salary the constable is to receive. A constable's salary and expenses are set by the commissioners court pursuant to chapter 152, Subchapter B of the Local Government Code at the appropriate time in the county budget cycle. See TEX. LOC. GOV'T CODE ANN. § 152.011-.013 (Vernon 1999). This mode of salary-setting applies whether the individual is constable of precinct five or of precinct one. See generally Ector County v. Stringer, 843 S.W.2d 477, 479 (Tex. 1992); Vondy v. Comm'rs Court of Uvalde County, 714 S.W.2d 417 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1986, writ ref'd n.r.e.); Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. No. JC-0389 (2001) (salaries of constables must reflect their duties under statute).

The constable's legal duties and powers are not changed when precinct five is abolished and he becomes a constable of precinct one. Each constable in precinct one receives the salary and expenses allocated by the commissioners court. See generally Tex. Att'y Gen. Op. No. JC-0389 (2001) (authority of commissioners court to determine salaries for constables). Each constable supervises the deputies whose appointment has been approved by the commissioners court. There will be issues of a practical nature about allocating the work in the precinct between the two constables with identical powers and duties, but these are not resolved by statute.

SUMMARY

Pursuant to article V, section 18(c) of the Texas Constitution, a constable will serve out his term of office in the precinct in which he resides when the precinct to which he was elected was abolished by a change of boundaries, even though his continued service temporarily results in extra constables serving in a precinct. The legal duties and powers of a constable are not changed by the abolition of the precinct to which he was elected through the redrawing of precinct boundaries. The commissioners court continues to set the constable's salary and expenses and to approve the appointment of his deputies as it did before the precinct boundaries were redrawn.

JOHN CORNYN
Attorney General of Texas

HOWARD G. BALDWIN, JR.
First Assistant Attorney General

NANCY FULLER
Deputy Attorney General - General Counsel

SUSAN DENMON GUSKY
Chair, Opinion Committee

Susan L. Garrison
Assistant Attorney General, Opinion Committee

[1] Letter from Honorable Tom Ramsay, Chair, County Affairs Committee, Texas House of Representatives, to Honorable John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General (Sept. 12, 2001) (on file with Opinion Committee) [hereinafter Request Letter]; Letter from Honorable John A. Longoria, Texas House of Representatives, to Honorable Tom Ramsay, Chair, County Affairs Committee, Texas House of Representatives (Sept. 5, 2001) (on file with Opinion Committee) [hereinafter Longoria Letter].