- Serves as license peace officer who issues traffic citations, conduct criminal investigations, and other law enforcement functions throughout the county. Also serves warrants and civil papers like subpoenas, intents to sue, eviction notices, and temporary restraining orders.
- Serves as bailiff for Justice Court, and must be present–or have one of their Deputy Constables present–during hearings. They serve and execute Civil Process and Civil Court orders.
- Expected to interfere without warrant to prevent or suppress crime as authorized by the Code of Criminal Procedure. They are also expected to arrest offenders without warrants in every case where they are authorized to take them to be tried by the proper court or magistrate.
- County Constables are elected through partisan, county-wide elections to four-year terms. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county. Additionally, they must be a licensed peace officer through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, attend and complete a police academy, complete bi-annual training, and fulfill continuing education requirements.
- The annual salary for County Constable ranges from $0 to over $155,000, set by the county’s Commissioners Court.

Performs civil and criminal law enforcement functions and serves legal documents.

This sample ballot may not include all local party roles or measures on the official ballot. The listed candidates serve only within their party, and the propositions do not change the law.

Texas

2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas Primary Election

2026 Texas Primary Runoff

Policing

Judicial Efficiency

Public Safety

Criminal Justice

County Constable

- Has jurisdiction over all appeals from criminal convictions from justice and municipal courts in Dallas County.
- Oversees mental health diversion court, competency court, and misdemeanor criminal trial court.
- County criminal court of appeals judges are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 25 years old, have been a Texas and county resident for at least 24 consecutive months, a practicing lawyer and/or judge in Texas for at least four years, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for county criminal court of appeals judges is $185,000.

Oversees multiple courts and criminal appeals from Dallas County courts.

Dallas

Victim Assistance

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

County Criminal Court of Appeals Judge

- Has original jurisdiction over all felony criminal matters in the district.
- Cases either go to the Court of Appeals or directly to the Court of Criminal Appeals, where their legal reasoning may be reviewed. May hear appeals from county courts when authorized.
- County’s criminal courts administration–which has positions like case managers, magistrate support officers, and bailiffs–reports to each county’s criminal district judge.
- Criminal District Judges are elected through partisan, county-wide elections to four-year terms. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 25 years old, have been a Texas and county resident for at least 24 consecutive months, a practicing lawyer and/or judge in Texas for at least eight years, and registered to vote in that county.
- The salary for Criminal District Judges range from $175,000 to $245,500, depending on years of service and how much they receive as a county supplement.

Presides over all felony criminal cases within the elected district.

Corruption

Criminal District Judge

- Justices of the Peace oversee Justice Courts, trial courts for civil cases up to $20,000, and misdemeanor cases punishable only by fine. They also perform marriages, issue warrants, conduct preliminary hearings, and serve as notaries.
- Texas has 835 Justice Courts, each presided over by a single judge. Every county has between one and eight precincts based on the county's population, each with its own Justice Court.
- Justices of the Peace are elected through partisan, precinct-wide election to four-year terms. 
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a district resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that precinct.
- The annual salary for Justices of the Peace ranges from $19,207 to $151,805 and is by the county's Commissioners Court.


Presides over civil cases and fine-only misdemeanor cases.

Justice of the Peace

- Presides over commissioners court, county’s policy-making body. Helps adopt county budget, sets county tax rates, oversees building and maintaining county infrastructure, and other county government operations.
- Serves as judge of county court, taking on misdemeanor criminal and small civil cases, probate matters, and appeals from the justice of the peace court.
- Performs administration duties, ranging from hearings for beer and wine license applications to calling elections. Can serve as budget officer in counties with a smaller population.
- Serves as county’s emergency management director, with authority to designate an assistant to emergency management issues as emergency management coordinator.
- Represents county at ceremonial occasions and on various boards and committees, including Election Commission, Workforce Governing Board, and Bail Bond Board.
- County Judges are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for county judges range from $47,425 to $198,921, set by the county’s commissioners court.

Leads your county’s policy-making board.

Election Oversight

Economy

Public Services

Transportation & Infrastructure

Education

Public Health

Energy & the Environment

County Judge

- Receives and deposits all county revenues, and records receipts and expenditures while reconciling bank statements.
- Acts as chief liaison between the county and depository banks, disburses funds upon the order of the commissioners court, and might prepare payroll.
- Could be selected as county’s investment officer and submit regular reports on county finances to commissioners court.
- Can also be county’s human resources officer, employee benefits coordinator, risk manager, insurance coordinator, and assist with audit responsibilities.
- County treasurers are elected through partisan, county-wide elections to four-year terms. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for county treasurer ranges from $23,230 to $161,047, depending on the county.

County’s chief finance officer responsible for safekeeping and investment of funds.

Economic Growth

Financial Management

County Treasurer

- A County Court-At-Law judge handles misdemeanors, such as assault of a family member, property theft between $750 and $2,500, and using force against a law enforcement officer. They also handle civil cases where the amount in question does not exceed $200,000. 
- County Court-At-Law judges conduct arraignments, pre-trial hearings, and jury trials, as well as accept guilty pleas. 
- They are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. 
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 25 years old, have been a Texas and county resident for at least 24 consecutive months, a practicing lawyer and/or judge in Texas for at least four years, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for County Court-At-Law Judges ranges from $174,000 to $244,500, depending on years of service and how much they receive as a county supplement.

Handles civil and criminal cases from District Courts.

County Court-At-Law Judge

- Serves as clerk and custodian of all records for district courts. Supports attorney general and child protective services courts.
- Indexes and secures all court records and verdicts, collects filing fees, and handles funds held in litigation and money awarded to minors. Also manages court registry funds and may process passport applications.
- Fulfills requests from attorneys or via court order to issue documents, collecting fees and distributing them to state and local agencies monthly.
- Gathers data and reports to various agencies to assist county, state, and Texas Legislature in proper operation of courts, effectiveness of statues, and any need for changes.
- Often in courtroom, filing documents, administrating oaths to defendants, witnesses, and jurors, and assists judge in docket management. Coordinates jury panel selection process and acts as liaison between jurors, courts, and employers.
- District clerks are elected through partisan, county-wide elections to four-year terms. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a county resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for district clerks range from $35,236 to $207,952, set by the county’s Commissioners Court.

2026 Texas candidates

Dallas County Constable, Justice Precinct 2, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas County Criminal Court of Appeals Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas Criminal District Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas Justice of the Peace, Justice Precinct 2, Democratic Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Dallas County Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas County Treasurer, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas County Court-At-Law Judge, Democratic Primary

2 candidates

Dallas Justice of the Peace, Justice Precinct 4, Democratic Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Dallas District Clerk, Republican Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas County Constable, Justice Precinct 2, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you