Tex. R. Disc. P. 3.02

As amended through November 19, 2024
Rule 3.02 - Assignment of Judge
A. Assignment Generally: Upon receipt of a Disciplinary Petition, the Presiding Judge shall assign an active district judge whose district does not include the county of appropriate venue to preside in the case. An assignment of a judge from another region shall be under Chapter 74, Government Code. The Presiding Judge shall transmit a copy of the Presiding Judge's assignment order to the Chief Disciplinary Counsel. Should the judge so assigned be unable to fulfill the assignment, he or she shall immediately notify the Presiding Judge, and the Presiding Judge shall assign a replacement judge whose district does not include the county of appropriate venue. A judge assigned under this Rule shall be subject to recusal or disqualification as provided by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the laws of this state. The motion seeking recusal or motion to disqualify must be filed by either party within the time provided by Rule 18a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. In the event of recusal or disqualification, the Presiding Judge shall assign a replacement judge whose district does not include the county of appropriate venue. If an active district judge assigned to a disciplinary case becomes a retired, senior, or former judge, he or she may be assigned by the Presiding Judge to continue to preside in the case, provided the judge has been placed on a visiting judge list. If the Presiding Judge decides not to assign the retired, senior, or former judge to continue to preside in the case, the Presiding Judge shall assign an active district judge whose district does not include the county of appropriate venue. A visiting judge may only be assigned if he or she was originally assigned to preside in the case while an active judge. Any judge assigned under this Rule is not subject to objection under Chapter 74, Government Code.
B. Transfer of Case: If the county of alleged venue is successfully challenged, the case shall be transferred to the county of proper venue. If the case is transferred to a county in the assigned judge's district, the judge must recuse himself or herself, unless the parties waive the recusal on the record. In the event of recusal, the Presiding Judge of the administrative judicial region shall assign a replacement judge whose district does not include the county of appropriate venue. If the case is transferred to a county outside the administrative judicial region of the Presiding Judge who made the assignment, the Presiding Judge of the administrative judicial region where the case is transferred shall oversee assignment for the case and the previously assigned judge shall continue to preside in the case unless he or she makes a good cause objection to continued assignment, in which case the Presiding Judge shall assign a replacement judge whose district does not include the county of appropriate venue.

Tex. R. Disc. P. 3.02

Amended May 25, 2021, effective 7/1/2021.