Admission Requirements

for Induction into the College of Justice Court Judges 

➢ Applicant must be currently serving as a Texas Justice of the Peace or Court Clerk in good standing.

➢ Applicant must be a member in good standing of the Texas Justice Court Judges Association.

➢ Applicant must make application each education year for the College on or before the deadline established by the Director of the College. “Education year” as defined by the College of Justice Court Judges shall be September 1st through August 31st of the following year.

➢ Judge applicants must attain at least 10 hours of accredited education in addition to the mandatory education requirements as set out by Section 27.005 of the Texas Government Code to qualify for membership in the College each year. “Accredited education” as defined by the College of Justice Court Judges includes education that is sponsored by one of the entities set out in Rule 3 of the Rules of Judicial Education or that is approved by the State Bar of Texas for continuing legal education. Clerk applicants must attain at least 10 hours of accredited education by attending seminarssponsored by the Texas Justice Court Judges Association. (JCJA)

➢ Documentation of hours for the mandatory education requirements must be submitted to the College in addition to those hours required to qualify for College membership.

➢ All documentation of education sent to the College shall reflect the course provider, subject matter of the education, and the number of hours in attendance.

➢ The subject matter of the education must be within the “Core Curriculum” as developed by the Texas Justice Court Judges Association.

➢ The deadline for receipt of documentation of accredited education shall be established by the Director of the College.

➢ “Distinguished Member” status will be awarded those judges who acquire no less than 30 hours of accredited education in addition to the mandatory education requirements.

➢ “Scholar Member” status will be awarded those judges who acquire no less than 60 hours of accredited education in addition to the mandatory education requirement. A scholar member shall also receive a one-year complimentary membership in the JCJA to be awarded to a judge or clerk of his choice; and in addition, shall also receive complimentary registration to one non-conferenceseminar for a new College applicant during the following education year.

➢ Those judges who teach a class within the JCJA Core Curriculum for an approved entity as described above shall receive two hours credit for each hour taught. However, teaching hours shall not comprise more than 10 hours.

➢ Questions of acceptability of hours submitted will be decided by the College of Justice Court Judges Committee appointed by the Texas JCJA Board of Directors. The applicant to the College may appeal that decision to the Board of Directors of the Texas JCJA. Any such appeal shall be concluded by October 1st following the end of the education year.

➢ An event honoring those to be inducted into the College may be held in the fall of the year immediately following the end of the education year and diplomas will be given those College members.

(Revised 10-28-2019)