New Judge lacks court

When State District Judge-elect J. Rolando Olvera Jr. officially takes the bench later this year, one thing will be missing - his courtroom.

Cameron County's budget restraints have prompted county officials to postpone construction on the newly created 445th state District Court for Olvera for one year.

County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said postponing construction saved the county approximately $500,000 and helped balance the 2008-2009 budget. It was an agreement reached with Olvera, county officials and the remaining state district judges.

However, postponing the court's construction doesn't mean anything to Olvera, who "plans to hit the ground running" after the Nov. 4 votes are canvassed, he said.

"Some of those variables are out of my control, but I'm going to be up and running as soon as possible," he said.

Olvera, a Democratic candidate, has no opponent in the November election.

Although his court is designated as a court of general jurisdiction, his court will have an emphasis on criminal cases. Olvera will still have a court docket and will be what officials refer to as a "roving judge." He will utilize the courtrooms of the other judges when they are not in use.

"All of the district judges have agreed to share courtroom space and courtroom staff with me on a rotational basis...as to what day I will be in court and what have you, those kind of calendar issues have yet to be worked out," Olvera said.

When the idea of adding the court was addressed last year, County Commissioners were under the impression it was just one court they were seeking.

The commission and the judges talked about a bill sponsored by state Rep. Rene Oliveira and co-sponsored by state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., in the Texas Legislature that called for the formation of the 444th state District Court.
Under the bill, the 444th state District Court would hear no less than 50 percent family law cases, according to Brownsville Herald archives.

When Commissioners Court approved a resolution in support of a court in March 2007, they believed one court would be created on Jan. 1, 2009.

However, somewhere in the legislative process, Senate Bill 1951 was changed and called for the creation of the 444th and 445th courts.

Governor Rick Perry signed the bill creating the two courts in May, which took effect on Sept. 1, 2007.

Both district court seats are up for election in November, and those elected will take the bench after the votes are canvassed or on Jan. 1, 2009.

The 444th state District Court is basically already in existence. It will give preference to family law cases, which the county's family court already does. The family court utilizes the Central Jury room as a courtroom for now.

It will be housed in the space that is currently home to the District Attorney office in the county courthouse.

County officials don't anticipate work on the 444th state District Court to be completed by Jan. 1.

The District Attorney's office will move to the old county administration building that once housed Commissioners Court, the county judge's office plus the county commissioners offices.

Work on the District Attorney's Office is currently under construction.

Although a second bill was filed requesting a 445th state District Court that would hear criminal cases as well, the judges decided not to pursue this court.

The bills were filed in February 2007 after the county's six state district court judges appealed to Oliveira, D-Brownsville, and Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, for relief from heavy dockets.