| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 133 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, Proud members of the Justices of the Peace and |
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| 3 | 3 | | Constables Association of Texas are gathering in Austin on |
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| 4 | 4 | | February 12, 2019, for Justices of the Peace and Constables Day |
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| 5 | 5 | | at the State Capitol; and |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The office of justice of the peace, first |
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| 7 | 7 | | established in 1362 by King Edward of England, and the office of |
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| 8 | 8 | | constable, first established in 1215 by King John of England, |
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| 9 | 9 | | were two of the first offices established in the American |
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| 10 | 10 | | colonies in 1620; both offices were created by the Texas |
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| 11 | 11 | | Constitution approximately two centuries later and continue to |
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| 12 | 12 | | serve a vital role in the system of county government; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Justices of the peace are an integral part of the |
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| 14 | 14 | | Texas judiciary; they exercise jurisdiction in criminal |
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| 15 | 15 | | misdemeanor cases punishable by fine or sanctions and exercise |
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| 16 | 16 | | civil jurisdiction in matters in controversy up to $10,000; |
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| 17 | 17 | | justices of the peace preside over those courts closest to the |
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| 18 | 18 | | people, first established as "grass roots" courts in 1836 when |
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| 19 | 19 | | Texas became a republic; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Constables serve as officers of the court as |
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| 21 | 21 | | bailiffs, execute civil and criminal process issued by Texas |
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| 22 | 22 | | courts, and enforce criminal laws as certified peace officers; |
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| 23 | 23 | | the first known constable to serve in Texas was appointed in |
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| 24 | 24 | | 1823, when the region was still under Mexican rule; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, The men and women who accept the responsibilities |
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| 26 | 26 | | of the offices of justice of the peace and constable perform |
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| 27 | 27 | | their official duties with integrity, dedication, and the |
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| 28 | 28 | | required knowledge of the law, thereby contributing immeasurably |
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| 29 | 29 | | to the justice system, the safety of the citizens of Texas, and |
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| 30 | 30 | | the peace and order of our society; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | WHEREAS, For more than 75 years, the Justices of the Peace |
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| 32 | 32 | | and Constables Association of Texas has represented the interests |
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| 33 | 33 | | of justices of the peace, constables, and members of their staffs |
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| 34 | 34 | | across the Lone Star State, and today the organization boasts a |
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| 35 | 35 | | membership of over 2,000; now, therefore, be it |
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| 36 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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| 37 | 37 | | Legislature, hereby recognize February 12, 2019, as Justices |
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| 38 | 38 | | of the Peace and Constables Day at the State Capitol; and, be |
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| 39 | 39 | | it further |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 41 | 41 | | the association as an expression of high regard from the Texas |
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| 42 | 42 | | Senate. |
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| 43 | 43 | | Watson |
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| 44 | 44 | | ________________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | President of the Senate |
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| 46 | 46 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 47 | 47 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 48 | 48 | | the Senate on February 6, 2019. |
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| 49 | 49 | | ________________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 51 | 51 | | ________________________________ |
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| 52 | 52 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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