Legal Services

	"Our last commissioners court meeting nearly went off the rails when a few public members refused to follow our newly adopted public comment procedures. Eventually we managed to bring the meeting back to order, but what if this happens again? What can we do?"

Does a commissioners court have contempt authority?

Yes. Section 81.023 of the Local Government Code grants the court authority to punish a person by fine of not more than $25 or confinement for not more than 24 hours. A person may be confined until the fine is paid. For more information on conducting commissioners court meetings, see our publication Commissioners Court Meetings Procedure and Decorum.