Case Information
*1 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS AUSTIN GROVER SELLERS ATTORNEY QENCRAL
Honorrblo CherlO8 Ii. Thaob8ld
County Attemw
G.1n.t.a wuntr
oelvo.ton, Tour
our opinior on th. it8
ngul4r 01. 4 p.g. 253) ml0n r0r tt.. oontaning d not Eon than 100,000 16.t &il%WdiIl6 $?*dWal thrlv lr no dirtriot at- ornoy porrorma but108 4 618trlot .ttornoy. (chhptor thr oounty at- ouaty l l6 tub- rldlthazwron t& laulr ppllaclblo 8h m uo od mown la l 88mb.r of tha Yortp ialaturo nprrrunting Oclv88tOn County
whl.h ,o*otod th. rbtoto rbi0-0a toa whartly I rul ham mm v8oen.i~. or arri8knt. thla oifior and Mr. Breua lr anxlour to bo appoinkb and X .m l gnoablo to p oint-
.I 60. OS tb, ~...l.t.nt. lng him and it hl. lnkntlon to rrrigc~ hlr A.6 81.0 po.ltlm la LJi. l rent h. 1. ULi(Stble t@ b. •~ tiv. p ointe& a. l a aiatant wmaty l ttornay en& y objort Fo *2 Eon. Charles ii. Th@obold, page 2
writing you is to rvrpottully request your opinion lr ho lo 8llglblo In rlos ot th. prorlolon of Artiolo 3, iMotion 18 of th. Gtoto Con~tltution.
'1 toko tho libmrtg ot onolo8ine 0 oopy of M opinion i3003-A written the Ho.. William ~.obrou, tho then attomoy Qonorol 0r Texas, on AU&tiOt 26th 1937.
As you on u8re on 88lotoat oounty ttornoy Ia ro- quir0d kk0 th0 0rri0i0i 00th OS 0rri00.
*I rlll bo vary gntotul to gou it you rlU. klidly . odrt.. PI ii EF. 13r~i~n i. li&lblo t. be OppOintOd On 088i8t8nt oountr ttornoy otter his ro8lgnotion 00 0
mmbor tha Forty-ninth Lo~iol0tux-e.~
Artiolo 331 of Vernon*8 htmototod Gilil St8tutoo nods 08 r0110w.1 ooth. and Op~intment. alull b. XWOOrdOd and
m dewoltod in the oouaty al.rk* 0rri00.w (undorrooring ouio) at, 3902 of Y. A. C. S., &WNidO. part 8. fOll‘JW: q#ha.ver any dlatriot. oounty or rmoiaot orrioor ghglf reatiro tho oervioeo Of d.DUtl.8. SSSiotSnt. or olerkg ln tho ~erromonoo ot his dutlo. ho oh011 OPPXX 10 the COiUItY cOSUni88iOner8' court of hza ocw%tY for autmrity to ODDOiAt UOh doPutl.8. . ..i.tont.* or olerks. stating by 8WOm ODRliOSti@O thS QuabSr nS*dSdv Iho ,,,,.ltla to bo tllle4 and the amOUnt to b. mida soid applioatlon shall k OOOOmROnlOd by ..tftmSnt .bowti 1. on6 ooiapon- tiii &WObOble rOO.~~t. t?Om tOS8, O--loll 10 ri.001 ration to bo oolleotod by sold ottloo durio- DrObOblS d~sbumoiamtr which .holl in&ado ‘I
lion. Char168 U. Theobald, ME. 3
no ooae 8h.11 the Conmi88lonor8~ Court or on$ as&or thrroot l ttOJR Rt to lnSluen.0 th. oppoiatimat 0s oIl# parson 08 doputp 08810tont or olark kr w otrp.
UDon the entry 0 i buoh ordrr thr orri0ors asp4 g for 8uOh l 8818t0nt8. aoputieb olerks amu ba authorload to l DDO~t thomt n'Wid8d thSt 8014 QOm- pnaotloa bholl not axo@bd th8 ~lLLoul MOtW bor8in- Th. oOiaWm88tion whloh may be OUowed otter I(rt out, 018rka o.ovo noaoa for to the dOwti88, oo~otont8 their oorvloo8 hell bo 0 r8OsOIiOble one. not >hO fOuOWmK oxoeed
OSOulltbt "h. In aountlr. having 0 popul.tlon 0s sixty thou00n4 and one 60,001) and not more thOn one ~hundnd thouoon(l (100,000 inhobltontr, first assistant or [&&OO.OO)- 0u0r beDutY not to orore hrntr-rour ffundred Dollars par 8nnui~; Other o88lotont8 our 0 inion NO. O-5893 hold 'Artioles 331 and 3902 must be eons ddrod and oonotruod togmthor.m W quota from 8aid opinion as rouow0r
*Art1010 331, Veraon*a Annototwl Civil 3totute8, provides, In Orrr0t, that oountg ottorney8, by oon..nt of tha OOa.i%..~on.C.' oOuTt, 8hol.l havc powor to 8p- pOht iII Writing one more 088i8tMt8, not t6 oroood arms, for the&r ro8~otlre oouatlea, rho sb.oLl hon thta saw powers, uthorlt~ sad qu8liri00tio2ib 08 their ~~OintDUBt 3902, vimaon*a orsiotonto o&rib br Patriot, oouaty ot- preoinot xwgordlng thoy,@Loll tiole prinolpolr, deputies, is 0 later uhhooo will 0s sppointumat totutm Opplied Or@ to [331] tho uoo OnSated in 1891, 06d 0s o.oi.toat Annototad Btatut*o, ClriL ttoraep8. OOUntJ 0rri00. Ar- hold omendrd, utio10 Artlol.. 331 an& 3902 must b OOAbiCtO~d Md tiorrs.
oonrtruod together, In rior of those statutes, it is OUT OpiIkiOn, that O88iOtOnt8 Of th* COUitY AttOXWY Of must bo oppolatad in oompUoaoo with 8.14 nuI;,“,“nty Conoldwln togothor, it 18 tb two rtotuteo it tbr bi0t3mi0n 0s tb thrt 0~ ORkriOa, 8 ahin f oommis8ionero~ court to dotav&n* the numbor 0s 0018- tonto bo l ~~Oblt#d, 00 in th. dlsorrtion Of OOid St0t.d another WOy, tit&St RPftiM oourt mey b8 prolw.
tioo. Ghorlo8 ;i. Theobald, page o
0s art1010 lloitlng the number or o8olstanto amy bo appolntrd lo no longor oppllcoble, hoimrer, ths other portions krtiolo 331 ore sppii0Oblo 0fia tb a8al8tsat8 auat oomp4 with thr ~rorlalon8 0s said statute."
The aorty-ninth LsgiolotUr. (Senate Bill MO. 123 page 244) amended ATtlole 3902, oupro, adding theret th8 rolfowing~ "9. The Commisrion~rr~ COui?t la heroby outhorlzed,
whoa in their judgment tinonolol ooadition or tha oounty sad the a.oaa 0s the d.pUti.8, o..l.tonto and 0s 04 dlotriot, oounty or pmOinOt orrlolrr &AD- olrrkr Tho Party-ninth Legl8loture ols0 poosed q,ouae Bill Ro. 798 and provided that the prorialona of said Aot should be oumilatlve of ;rrtlole 3902, V. A. c. 9.
WI quote from Ii. B. wo. 798 as ~ollowa:
*El. a. 130. 798 *Aa Aot providing tor thr oppointmbnt of 08e18tant oounty
ottorney8 in countle8 horin. 0 population or sixty thousand and one (60,001) and not loore than on. &ua- ared thouo8n6 (100,000) inhabitants oooording to tJm lost preoedlng Pederol Can8u8 ln aouutlor where there la not a dl8triot ottornay and oountfoa when tho attorney perform duties oouaty ottornay oounty and dlatrlot attorneyi prOVi6i.W ror thr moth04 or thmir oppolntaontj prorldlng ror their oomp.nootionj roporto ah4 opplioati0ho; pro- prwldlng for cwtola riabg th8 pzvvl8ion8 0s thla hot ore oumulrtloe or Artlole 3902, ~evl~ed Civil stotutoo of TMOO, 1925, and deolaring on iiwrgenoy~
Ceotlon 1, I,o Ou owotle. Of this State having population or sixty thouoond and oao (60,001) and not more than on. hundred thousand (100,000) lhhsbltsnts, aooord4 t0 th. last preoedlng Ioderol Census, tho OoUaty 8ttOm.Yo *5 Eon. Charlea ii. Theobald, page 5 wh oouotlea whIoh do not have a 6IatrIot attorney,
an& wham thr o ounty l ttornoy parfornu the dutloa of oouaty rttorwy ana aibtriot attorney, th0 00unty at- ruoh countlab 8hall apply to the oounty oom torney aiaaIonera~ oourt of hi8 oounty for authority ta appotnt uoh aalatant o ouaty l ttornoya 18 h8 may mpulm in the p0rrormmoo 0r hi8 autfeb be ueh oounty attorney stating by aworn 8pplloatIon tha number n00aaa, the poaltion to be fIlla bAa the amount be pbia. ,%a16 applicmtlon ahall ba oocwqmnlaa a rtataaent ahowing t!m probable rooOiptr- frop rb08, oommlaalana ma oocnpmaatIon to b0 oolleoted by raid orriae during th0 rlaoal year ana tha probable dlaburuaenta whloh ahall inolubo all ulatioa *8eo. 2. Tha provlaIo5a this liot am ouaulatIvr Artdole 3902 Of tha ;iWfard Civil Statute‘ oi Telab of 1925, aa ibii0naea. And In nonlaa ahall b0 005bia~r0a aa a liraitrtlon 05 the other powwe aAa authority or tha Coni- iulaalonera~ Court therain pmaoribod.
5soo. 3. The rb0t that there ia not now any air- tlnotlon In the aalarlea iOr aaaIatant oounty attorney8 In oountlra harlng a oounty attorney prfo?sIrq the autka a oowtg attorney aa a dfbtrfot attorney irent thoaa oountlea havI5g oount attor5aya perro tha dutira OS oouuty attornsy 05 y, In oountlem when then la now a dirtrlot attorney perrolming the autiea ruoh, ana the forthar rO0t or orowaea oondition the oalandar oreats an rno rgsnoy bAa 5 Iaperativr @bat ths COnbtitutiORbl ati8 FbqUirin6 publlo nroerrfty bulb to bo read 011 thna ~rral daya in 8bOh EOUH bb aw~ndod, and the aamd la horuby bUbpAab&, and that thib A0t ahau take l r00t and b0 in r0r0a rrorn 8ad arter its perugo, I8 0-0t0a.* anil it A oaretul rvaafng or the 19kO Federal Conaua reveal8
tha proriaiona of laat puotsd Act am epplloablLe Qalvaafon, aU000b, s;psfth, G~VIJ~OA, C(IBA0IOn and ZiiOhitb COWtieD.
Bon. Charlob 8. Thoobalb, pas@ ‘6
To aotwul5e whether bm Brown la l llglbla ror thm 0rri00 $0 whloh ho aaplrma, wm iwmt now look to the Coaatitution or thll State; Artlolm IU, smatlon 18 or the Tmsar uonatItution reada ; I5 part aa roilmn
The qentloa' that w mrmt now OOAoiaS? la whmthmr the mnolu- ‘~ unto or wi0e tralatuit Count Gmlvmaton Athrnoy hmrm bmmn iaoraaard dur the tmra ot Reprsaenta-
~~~ty&xam~ trortdkbUt0 bfX.~O-, We brm leaPliOdthsth@ la dealroo; beln6 Hrat AaaIatant Cou&ty AttOrAby 0r aria CouEtY.
Prior tha Aota the 69th Lmgtalature, Rqubr seaaIon, 1945, the salary oi the Plrat Aaalatant Couaty Attommy Of Gal- veston County oauld not rxoeed l uai ot $2,400.90 pr anma. 3902, V. A c. s., l uprm.) Thb C9th LagIal.a- (Se8 SOOT Co Ark tura mnimnamd Art. 3902, uprme,by SadiAg thoreto t;ootIon 9, and bald saotlon wotia ba appliooblo to salary or the ylrmt AaaiataAt County AttOrAey Qalrsaton County uora It not ror the raot that tho aasn Lagimlrtwe al80 emoted Ii. B. kio. 796. Thm last wAtIoE~d hot, whloh la ppltoabla to Galrmmton County, provlaea thmt thm o0qmnaatlon Aamiatmnt qounty htpnc; *hell not l rar rd ;23600.00 per roar. p oareful 8tuQlr th Coaalaalonarm~ court wan then above atatutaa mwmlb authorltad by the LeRlaZotu3?a t0 WCthO almrlra Or namlm~ant puntx AttorAeXb not to xoeoa omrtmln asxLmwik miDDunt*. IA OMAeOtiOA with th8 lmbt StatWbnt w Oal& your OttOn- tlon to thm oaa8 sari AstonI va. Jonea, 20 Tms. 32, whenin tha oourt ~141
vyia loglal.atura nimf grant muthorltr aa umll aa give OQJMUA~B, Mid aOt8 it8 UthO~~tr dOnO UUdW am a@ valid be ii done ln obrdleno~ to ita oonuaandm. &Or i* a *tat&o, whoam oaplrta mxaarrtloa ana appllaatlon
eot mmttmr I8 by it8 provlafaaa mada to
ho mamrAt Do50 other body, 8 dale6atIon br le~lalmtlrr pmrrr Tha diboretioD &ixwm thm xmroiaa OS thm po*rr aonf~md by the lmw but net (Thin dootrlno oitad with to ato the law itarlr.* in JohnroE Va. Martin, 12 9. tie 321 aAd approval va. ua50 Cowrty, 211 s. 8. 569, and roil0d st8plea Ln stat0 iiiyhway 3apt. va. Gorhaa, 162 Sa W. (26) 9%) *7 377 . ,’ plrer 7 iion. Charles ii. Tbobald,
Thus, uador t@8 hOl&ia& Ot the BbOVb ait+ baam WMt~Ver amount the ConnnlaaIonera~ court flxmm 48 thm amlarg of the Tlrat Gmllmmton Gounty Is rirea by tIrtu* Ammiatbnt County httornoy or bAa under authority of an bat or tha legIalaturm, ana muoh mcwt 80 ilrmd by lbglalstiva authority is mqulvblbnt to, la aa ?a114 aa if tlxbd In obedienoe to a bpbolrlo lagialatlvm ooin- BMAd.
In rlow or,tha lomgOIng authorltlea wo think that II tha CctaadaaIonara~ Court of Gmlvomton CountJ Ilua thb salary ot thm Ilrmt Aaaiatant at a bum l xoea a of the mrxlinufa County Attornmy prorldea ror In sro, 4 or hrt. 3902, l up ra, (;;2400.00 per amount aaacu) then the awlumm~ta of the Ofiiw would be lnoraaaed by vlrtuo ‘A Aot paaaed the 49th L8gIalatara whloh tir. BrOmn wan a imrnb*rr stated aAothmr ray, Ir’tho Co6nm&malokorm~ Court or lnorbaaoa ablbry ror thb orrioa Piret GalvmmtoA oounty AaaImtant county AttOImy da Gounty in **ebb 32400.00 per year, la oar opinion that tbm un&rlinaa portlana 0r Sec. or It Art1010 111 uolrld runder Hr. Brolm i.nrl1gibl.a ror amid 0rri00, FIFIA though ha might malgn aa a aambet thm Lsgialrture. ~owover, tr the ComaImalonara~ court Zlrba the salary of lflrat AaalmtaAt County Attorney $Y+GOrOG per a~~ua, lean, then It la our opinion that Kr, Brown oould rmmlgn em a uwaber or Leglblaturb ena qualiry ror bald 0rri0h Your8 very truly,
I JCDILJ ‘,. I~<; * v .-, r pi’ , ,’ i-.; ,. , By. J. 0. Dbvla, Jr* ]‘“.w+)l Aaalatant *