The Texas Constitution vests broad
judicial and administrative powers in the position of county judge, who presides over a five-member commissioners court, which has budgetary and administrative authority over county government operations.
The LaSalle
County Judge handles such widely varying matters as hearings for beer and wine license applications, hearing on admittance to state hospitals for the mentally ill and mentally retarded, juvenile work permits and
temporary guardianships for special purposes. The judge is also responsible for calling elections, posting election notices and for receiving and canvassing the election returns. The county judge may perform marriages.
The LaSalle County Judge also has judicial responsibilities for certain criminal, civil and probate matters. The judge has appellate jurisdiction over matters arising from the justice courts. The county judge is
also head of civil defense and disaster relief, county welfare and the judge prepares the county budget along with the county treasurer and county clerk.
