The overview
At a Dec. 17 meeting, Fort Bend County commissioners approved Tony K. Duckett as the county’s first magistrate court judge, who will preside over preliminary hearings that are held in criminal cases after defendants are arrested.
He previously served as an attorney at his own practice, the Law Office of Tony. K Duckett, where he focused on bankruptcy and family law, according to the Fort Bend County Bar Association.
Zooming in
The new court will appoint a singular judge to act as the magistrate leader on weekdays, allowing for consistency, said outgoing 400th District Court Judge Tameika Carter, who serves as local administrative district judge. Previously, the county has rotated associate and visiting judges to hear magistrate proceedings, she said.
Fort Bend County was the only county of its size without a professional magistrate court, she said.
The new magistrate judge position, alongside two court coordinators, was included in the fiscal year 2024-25 budget, approved by commissioners in September.
In their own words
“I’m honored to be selected to serve as magistrate judge for Fort Bend County,” Duckett said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the judges and other county departments to develop a magistrate court to efficiently meet applicable local, state and federal laws.”
What’s next?
Duckett will begin his new role on Jan. 21, according to agenda documents.
