The County Court of Law in Lamar County was created by the Legislature in 1997 to ease caseloads on the County Court (Judge Superville) and the two Lamar County State District Courts – the 6th (Judge Clifford) and the 62nd (Judge McDowell). 
As a general rule, the County Court at Law handles the same kind of cases that the County Court does; however, the County Court at Law also has the authority to hear other types of cases usually heard by the District Court.  Some attorneys consider the County Court at Law a “junior” District Court.   
Specifically, the Lamar County Court at Law is authorized to handle:

1.    Family Law cases including divorces, custody issues, child support matters, adoptions, etc…;
2.    Misdemeanor (criminal) cases including pretrial hearings, guilty pleas and jury trials; 
3.    Juvenile cases;
4.    General civil cases such as contract disputes, debt collection and personal injury cases if the amount in dispute is more than $500 but less than $100,000;
5.    Probate issues, including will contests; 
6.    Guardianship issues;
7.    Mental commitments; and,
8.    Arraignments, pretrial hearings and guilty pleas in felony cases. 

The County Court at Law only has the authority to hear the types of cases given to it by the Legislature.  For example, the County Court at Law cannot currently conduct felony jury trials.
To be a judge of a county court at law the person must be a qualified voter in Lamar County, have resided in Lamar County for at least two (2) years and be a licensed attorney for at least five (5) years.  The judge cannot engage in the private practice of law.