LEGISLATIVE UPDATE CLASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT OUR 25TH ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE!!!!!
SAVE THE DATE FOR OCTOBER 15-18, 2017
TO BE HELD AT : ISLA GRAND BEACH RESORT-SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS
*Message From Our President Constable Robert Vasquez*
To All STJPCA Members,
Our 2017 South Texas JPCA Conference is fast approaching. We have been working together to put a training schedule together for this conference and hope you will be satisfied with the agenda once it is completed.
We are excited to be able to bring “Legislative Updates” to this agenda for those who will be needing it. Please pass this info along to all your friends.
Remember, our goal is to have one hundred or more in attendance at this next conference. Start recruiting now! If you need a membership form, please download one from our website.
Don’t forget to submit your nominations for Justice of the Peace of the year and Constable of the year!
Stay Vigilant and Stay Safe!
Constable Robert Vasquez
President for STJPCA
From the TJCTC in regards to Open Carry:
Dear Judges and Clerks:
As many of you are aware, Texas’ new “open carry” law took effect on January 1, 2016. The new law allows individuals who hold a handgun license (formerly known as a “concealed handgun license”) to openly carry a firearm in a belt holster or a shoulder holster.
Please be aware that the new law does not allow handgun license holders (or anyone else) to carry a firearm in your courtroom or in your court offices. Section 46.03 of the Penal Code prohibits an individual, other than an officer of the court, from possessing a weapon in these locations unless such possession has been approved in writing by the court.
Although it is clear that Texas law generally prohibits the possession of firearms in courtrooms, you should be aware that there is an ongoing debate over what constitutes a court office. Texas’ Attorney General recently released two opinions addressing this question, and links to those opinions are provided below. These opinions indicate that if your justice court shares a building with other county offices then it’s possible that the possession of firearms, including the open carrying of firearms, may be allowed in other portions of the building.
TJCTC will address the issue of open carry in greater detail in our upcoming Quarterly Report, which will be delivered to you later this month. We encourage you to communicate with your fellow justices of the peace and county officials regarding your county’s policies regarding the possession of firearms in county buildings.
Sincerely,
The TJCTC Legal Department
Opinion KP-0047
Opinion KP-0049