Magistrate's Office

The Williamson County Magistrate's Office is staffed by Associate Judges who serve under the direction of the District and County Court at Law Judges of Williamson County pursuant a Standing Referral Order (Chapter 54A, Tex. Gov't Code).

The primary responsibilities of the Associate Judges revolve around the "Art. 15.17 Hearing" or "Magistration" process, where individuals who are arrested are advised of their rights under Texas and US law, and bail is set.  They conduct hearings where they advise defendants of their rights, and the amount and conditions of bail.  

Separate from Magistration, the judges review and authorize arrest warrants and certain search warrants, including blood search warrants, in criminal cases and provide other judicial support to the courts hearing criminal cases.

The Associate Judge does not determine guilt or innocence in criminal cases, nor can they provide legal advice.

The Associate Judges of the Magistrate's Office also work in conjunction with Pretrial Services to handle the processes of Cite and Release, Personal Bonds, Emergency Protective Orders, Ignition Interlock and initial appointment of attorney. For more information about these processes and Pretrial Services, view the pretrial services page.

Note: The information contained herein is for general knowledge and should not be considered legal advice to you. If you have questions regarding the legal implications of information contained herein as it applies to you, consult with a Texas licensed attorney.

I need to...

To modify an Emergency Protective Order (EPO), you must file a motion with the appropriate Clerk's Office.  If your EPO is related to a felony case, you must file your motion with the Williamson County District Clerk.  If it is related to a misdemeanor case, you must file your motion with the Williamson County Clerk's Office.

How to File
Attorneys must electronically file (EFile) their motion.  
Non attorneys may EFile or mail the motion to:

Lisa David
Williamson County District Clerk
405 Martin Luther King
Georgetown, TX  78626
Nancy Rister
Williamson County Clerk
405 Martin Luther King
Georgetown, TX  78626


How to Set a Hearing
If you would like to request a hearing on your motion, email [email protected] to schedule a hearing.

More Information
The Magistrate's Office and Pretrial Services are not able to provide you with legal advice.  Additional information about modification of an EPO can be found in Chapter 87 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.  If you have questions, you should consult a licensed Texas attorney.