Support Matt Hayes for Precinct 7 Justice of the Peace
Matt Hayes
Your JP for 8 years, Marine Corps Captain, Eagle Scout
During his 8 years on the bench, Matt was referred to as "the perfect JP" (by a state official familiar with all 822 JPs in the state) for his work with returning truants to school, teaching judges and clerks for the state agency and the innumerable accolades for how well he treated everyone in the courtroom.
What is a Justice of the Peace in Texas?
The office of Justice of the Peace is provisioned by the Texas Constitution to preside over the Justice Court.
- Civil Cases - Evictions, Debt Claims, Repair and Remedy and Small Claims (up to $20,000). This court was created for people to able to represent themselves, although attorneys are welcome, too.
- Criminal - all "fine-only" misdemeanors (traffic, minor in possession or consumption, septic and fire violations, fishing or hunting license and many more).
- Administrative - Driver license and LTC suspensions and revocations, mental health warrants, criminal warrants, disposition of stolen property, Peace Bonds, etc.
In less populous counties, the JP also serves as the coroner (determines the cause and manner of death and issue death certificates), reads rights to prisoners and sets bonds at the county jail. Tarrant County has a medical examiner for handling deaths and magistrates specifically for dealing with prisoners. When Matt was JP, the court handled 11,000 cases a year and was also the busiest truancy court in the State of Texas.
