Sunday, October 28, 2007
Newcomers 2007
53
Justice complex is the
home to district courts
District Attorney's Office represents
From staff reports
Texas in all criminal cases that arise
Felons in Bell County come to a final
anywhere in Bell County except low-
stop at the Bell County Justice Complex
grade misdemeanors filed in municipal
in Belton before heading to prison or be-
courts. Local police departments and
fore they serve probation.
the Sheriff 's Department routinely in-
A district judge is a constitutional of-
vestigate reports of criminal conduct,
fice elected to a four-year term. District
and cases are then filed in justice of the
judges must have been licensed to prac-
peace courts, county courts at law and
district courts in Bell County Once a
.
ice law in Texas for at least four years,
be residents of the judicial district for at
case has been filed, prosecutors from
least two years and be citizens.
the district attorney's office appear in
Martha Trudo in the 264th, elected in
these courts to represent Texas and the
1995, and Joe Carroll in the 27th District
victim of the crime.
Court since 1989, are the two mainstays
The duty of the prosecutor is to see
at the courthouse handling criminal
that justice is achieved in the case. Pros-
cases. But at the end of 2006, the gover-
ecutors also assist police agencies in the
legal aspects of criminal investigations
nor named Fancy Jezek to take over the
and present evidence to county grand
new 426th District Court because of the
juries in felony cases. A prosecutor is
massive caseload.
District Attorney Henry Garza has
assigned to the case from the time it is
held the top office of the prosecutor in
filed in court until it is disposed of by
Bell County since 2001, and has been in
a plea of guilty trial or dismissal. The
,
district attorney's office will continue
the DA's office since 1986. The DA is a
constitutional office elected to a four-
to handle the case if it is appealed to a
year term. The Bell County Criminal
higher court.