In Texas, Justices of the Peace have wide ranging jurisdiction. A JP court can issue warrants, conduct hearings, administer oaths, perform marriages, and even act as a coroner. JP courts also function as small claims courts for civil matters under $20,000, handle foreclosures and lien enforcement, and hear misdemeanor cases punishable only by fine (traffic tickets etc).
In Texas, Justices of the Peace have wide ranging jurisdiction. A JP court can issue warrants, conduct hearings, administer oaths, perform marriages, and even act as a coroner. JP courts also function as small claims courts for civil matters under $20,000, handle foreclosures and lien enforcement, and hear misdemeanor cases punishable only by fine (traffic tickets etc).
Forney is served by Justice of the Peace Precinct Two. JP2 is presided over by the Honorable Amy Tarno. Justice Tarno was kind enough to answer a few questions about her court and her role in administering justice in Forney.
What are your primary responsibilities and duties as a Texas Justice of the Peace?
Being a Justice of the Peace is a unique role in our judicial system that handles a wide variety of legal issues. I always joke that it’s easier to say what we don’t do than to describe all the areas of law we are involved with.
The primary role of a Texas Justice of the Peace is to handle minor civil and criminal cases such as traffic violations, small claims, debt claims, evictions, and act as a magistrate to sign warrants and set bail. JP Court is commonly known as "The People's Court".
What inspired you to pursue the role of a Justice of the Peace?
I wanted to be a Judge at a very young age, after my dad took me to jury duty with him. However, the reason I pursued my current role as JP was due to my husband and Don Cates. Don was the previous Mayor of Forney as well as a JP for several terms. Together, they decided that I was perfect for the job and gave me the encouragement and support to pursue this position.
What life experiences have helped you in your role as JP?
My previous experience as a civil paralegal for almost 20 years gave me the tools needed to be in the role that I’m in today. Since becoming a JP, I’ve had the opportunity to teach other JPs across the state and that experience has taught me so much as well.
What do you see as the most significant challenges facing Justice of the Peace courts today?
For Kaufman County JP’s, the most significant challenge we face is the unprecedented population growth over the last several years. We have added thousands of cases to our already busy case loads. Forney’s growth has also increased time spent at the jail performing our duty as a magistrate. For my court, the significant increase in juvenile cases has been my biggest challenge.
What do you believe is the most important quality for a Justice of the Peace to have?
There are so many qualities that are necessary to perform this job, but I would say the most important quality is integrity. Integrity is the cornerstone of our judicial system.
JP Courts involve a lot of pro se (parties without lawyers), how does this impact your role as Judge?
It can make things a little difficult, but helping others navigate our judicial system has always been a specialty of mine.
What would you like the public to know about your JP court?
I would like the public to know that I work hard for them every day. I consistently look for ways to improve the court and its functionality. Currently, I’m working on programs to help juveniles in our county. My court handles the new Juvenile Diversion Program that went into effect on January 1st and we also handle all of the Truancy cases for Kaufman County.