Texas Government Code - GOV'T § 54B.033. Proceedings That May Be Referred

(a) A judge may refer to a criminal associate judge any criminal case or matter relating to a criminal case for proceedings involving:

(b) A judge may refer to a criminal associate judge a civil case arising out of Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure, for any purpose authorized by that chapter, including issuing orders, accepting agreed judgments, enforcing judgments, and presiding over a case on the merits if a party has not requested a jury trial.

(c) A criminal associate judge may accept a plea of guilty from a defendant charged with misdemeanor, felony, or both misdemeanor and felony offenses.

(d) A criminal associate judge may select a jury.  A criminal associate judge may not preside over a criminal trial on the merits, whether or not the trial is before a jury.

(e) A criminal associate judge may not hear a jury trial on the merits of a bond forfeiture.

(f) A judge of a designated juvenile court may refer to a criminal associate judge any proceeding over which a juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction under Title 3, Family Code, including any matter ancillary to the proceeding.