Justice Court Seeks Additional Supervisor to Address Rising Case Volume

The Bexar County Commissioners Court Work Session on August 26, 2025, focused on the increasing workload within the Justice of the Peace court system, highlighting the need for additional staffing to manage the growing number of cases.

During the meeting, court manager Elba discussed the significant rise in constituents visiting the court, reporting 24,861 visitors from October 1, 2024, to July 25, 2025, already surpassing the previous year's total. This surge in traffic has led to overwhelming dockets, particularly in criminal cases, where the court is struggling to keep up with the volume of cases being processed. Elba emphasized the necessity for an additional supervisor position to better manage civil and criminal cases separately, as the current staffing is insufficient to handle the demands.

Elba noted that the court's criminal docket operates on Mondays and Fridays, with recent sessions extending late into the evening due to high attendance. The court has implemented measures such as using a community room for overflow cases, but the challenges remain significant. With projections of 600 traffic cases expected in the coming weeks, Elba expressed concern over the court's ability to effectively process these cases without additional support.

The discussion also included details about the e-filing system, which has seen a high volume of documents, further complicating the court's workload. Elba reported a backlog of warrants and other cases, underscoring the urgent need for more resources to ensure timely justice for constituents.

In conclusion, the meeting highlighted the pressing need for additional staffing in the Justice of the Peace court to address the increasing demands and improve the efficiency of case processing. The court's management is hopeful that the request for an additional supervisor will be reconsidered in light of these challenges.