Hays County swore in Judge Maggie Hernandez Moreno as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1-2 on Monday.
Citing state law, Hays County said Hernandez Moreno was appointed to take office Oct. 1 since she had no opponents in the November election. KVUE’s partners at the Austin American-Statesman reported Hernandez Moreno was set to run against Republican Shane Scott, who dropped out to run for San Marcos City Council.
Hernandez Moreno will become Justice of the Peace in the same court that her mother, Margie Hernandez, was in from 2003 until her death in 2015.
The Justice of the Peace performs the functions of a magistrate and conducts inquests. Justices are required to set bonds and conditions as well as performing additional magistrate duties. A Justice of the Peace may also issue warrants for search and arrest, conduct preliminary hearings, administer oaths, perform marriages and must serve as coroner in counties where there is no provision for a medical examiner.
