County creates Magistrate Division for district, county courts

By Anita Miller

The Hays County Commissioners Court took what is being called a “huge” step in the journey towards lowering the jail population last week when they created a Magistrate Division that would serve both district courts and county courts-at-law.

Funds for the division were set aside during the FY 2020 budget discussions under the “umbrella” of district courts, noted Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell, who also said the courts “have been working” on the plan ever since. Shell sponsored the agenda item for the Jan. 21 meeting.