Atascosa County commissioners approve resolution backing expansion of County Court at Law jurisdiction

Atascosa County Commissioners Court voted to approve a resolution supporting legislation to expand the jurisdiction of the Atascosa County Court at Law, during their meeting Jan. 21, 2025.

Judge Bob Bridal, Atascosa County Court at Law judge, told the commissioners he has proposed legislation that would extend the court's civil jurisdiction and allow the court to hear certain land-dispute cases. “It's an honor to be the County Court of Law Judge for Atascosa County. I take that responsibility, very seriously. I'm entering my seventh year of service and I want to make sure that my court is available as Atascosa County grows,” Bridal said.

The resolution, described by court staff as a formal expression of the commissioners' support, will be sent to state Representative McLaughlin. Bridal said local judges had rearranged some case assignments to manage current caseloads but that expanded jurisdiction would allow the County Court at Law to “pick up some of the slack that's overburdening the other courts.”

Commissioner Gillespie moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Riley seconded. When asked whether the document would be read aloud, court staff said it was lengthy and would instead be forwarded to the representative's office. The court recorded the motion as carried.

The action is a statement of local support for the bill Bridal plans to pursue at the start of the legislative session; the transcript does not include the bill text, an ordinance number, nor a legislative bill number. The resolution does not itself change court jurisdiction; it asks the county's state representative to carry legislation to amend jurisdictional law.

The court did not record a roll-call vote tally in the meeting transcript; the minutes show the motion carried after the usual “all those in favor?” call.

Bridal thanked the commissioners for their support and left to return to court work after the vote.