- 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

- 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.

Dallas

Legal Experience

Judicial Philosophy

Judicial Administration

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

County Court-At-Law Judge

- Handles cases for Class A misdemeanors–including assault of a family member, property theft between $750 and $2,500, and using force against a law enforcement officer when resisting or evading arrest–and Class B misdemeanors–including criminal mischief and property theft between $100 and $750.
- Serves as an appellate judge for cases from local courts. They work on all cases they receive until they are closed or appealed to a higher court.
- County criminal court-at-law 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-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 various misdemeanors and criminal appeals from local courts.

County Criminal Court at Law Judge

- County commissioners vote on the budget and appropriations, which fund essential county services like road maintenance.
- They create and enforce civil and criminal laws that align with state regulations, including land use and construction codes.
- Commissioners implement state and federal mandates while overseeing county agencies and public buildings.
- They also set tax rates for the county and its subdivisions.
- Each Texas county has four commissioners and a county judge, forming the local governing body known as the Commissioners Court.

Taxes

Economy

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

County Commissioner

- 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.

Preserves records for and serves as clerk in district courts.

Economic Growth

Administration

District Clerk

- 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

- Texas county probate judges handle all cases in probate, including estate administration, wills, guardianships, and incapacitation cases.
- There are a total of 24 probate judges across 12 counties within the state.
- They are paid an annual salary between $158,000 and $193,400.

2026 Texas candidates

Dallas County Constable, Justice Precinct 3, Democratic Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Dallas County Court-At-Law Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

Dallas County Criminal Court at Law Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas County Constable, Justice Precinct 4, Democratic Primary

2 candidates

How this impacts you

Dallas County Commissioner, District 4, Democratic Primary

2 candidates

Dallas District Clerk, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

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

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas Probate Court Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

Dallas County Criminal Court at Law Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate

How this impacts you

Dallas Probate Court Judge, Democratic Primary

1 candidate