Duties

THANK YOU to all my supporters! I appreciate your vote
and support in my reelection campaign. With your help,
we successfully won the election with more than a two to one margin!

Thank you again and I look forward to serving
as your Constable for 4 more years.
Sincerely,
Forres Meadows
Kendall County Constable, Pct. 3

The Constable's primary duties are to:

Perform service of Process

Act as bailiff;

Execute judgments; and

Subpoena witnesses

Constables have all the enforcement powers of Texas Peace Officers and are sometimes referred to as the executive office of the justice of the peace courts. In addition, Constable's may perform patrol functions and make criminal investigations. Constable's are involved in the overall effort to reduce the effects of crime in their communities, including in some cases the operation of truancy programs.

The Constables are elected by the registered voters in their own precincts and paid by the County. Their Law Enforcement Commissions are carried by the Governor of the State of Texas.

The duty of the Constable in Kendall County is an ever evolving position given the growth of the county. The precinct's needs and the Constable's involvement has evolved in the last nine years. Upon taking office in 1998 the Sheriff's Office was a smaller entity and it was necessary for the Constables to assist more on the streets. There was a need for more "hands on deck".

Since Sheriff Roger Duncan has been elected, he has reorganized the Sheriff's Office and has focused on placing more deputies on the streets and in the neighborhoods. The Constables are now able to focus primarily on civil process and the Justice Courts. When any situation arises that requires additional man power, Constables remain at the ready to assist.

A Constable is required to:

Graduate from a law enforcement academy
Pass the state licensing exam
Attend in-service training above and beyond other Texas Peace Officers with an emphasis on Civil Process.

As per Texas Local Government Code, the Powers and Duties of the Constable are:

Sec. 86.021. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) A constable shall execute and return as provided by law each process, warrant, and precept that is directed to the constable and is delivered by a lawful officer. Notices required by Section 24.005, Property Code, relating to eviction actions are process for purposes of this section that may be executed by a constable.

(b) A constable may execute any civil or criminal process throughout the county in which the constable's precinct is located and in other locations as provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure or by any other law.

(c) A constable expressly authorized by statute to perform an act or service, including the service of civil or criminal process, citation, notice, warrant, subpoena, or writ, may perform the act or service anywhere in the county in which the constable's precinct is located.

(d) Regardless of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, all civil process may be served by a constable in the constable's county or in a county contiguous to the constable's county, except that a constable who is a party to or interested in the outcome of a suit may not serve any process related to the suit.

(e) The constable shall attend each justice court held in the precinct.

Civil Process handled by the Constable (partial listing):

Writs and precepts directed to the Constable by any Justice of the Peace, County Court, or District Court.
On the civil side, the Constable is to execute and make return to the proper court according to Law:

Attachment – property & people
Capias
Certiorari
Citations
Distress Warrant
Ex - Parte – Protective Order
Execution
Forcible Entry & Detainer (Eviction)
Garnishment
Habeas Corpus
Injunction
Mandamus
Notice (Precept)
Order of Sale
Order of Sale in Tax Suits
Possession (Not Eviction)
Possession (Eviction)
Protective Order
Reentry
Scire Facias
Sequestration
Subpoena
Temporary Restraining Order
Trial of Right of Property

Turnover Order

And all other Civil Process, Writs and Precepts Lawfully directed and delivered to them by any Justice of the Peace, County Court, or District Court.

Other duties are to execute and make return to the proper court according to Law:

Arrest Warrants
Search Warrants
Witness Attachments
Criminal Subpoenas
And all other criminal process

In addition to the list above, the Constable's Duties also include:

Preserve the peace and good order of their precincts, and other precincts within the county
To arrest, where authorized by the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, offenders against the Penal Laws of the State of Texas, taking then without delay before the proper Magistrate or Court to be tried
To interfere without Warrant, to prevent and suppress crime within their precincts, and other precincts within the county
Arrest offenders without warrant in order that they may be taken without delay to a Magistrate or proper court for examination or trial.

[Forres] [Qualifications] [Duties] [History] [Voting Info] [Contact] [Endorsements] [Pictures]