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County Judge

Woodrow W. "Woody" Gossom JR.

900 7th Street, Rm 202

Wichita Falls, TX 76301

Phone: (940)766-8101        Fax:  (940)766-8289

Email: county.judge@co.wichita.tx.us

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Duties and Responsibilities of the County Judge

     The Texas Constitution vests broad judicial and administrative powers in the position of county judge, who presides over a five-member commissioners court, which has budgetary and administrative authority over county government operations. The county judge handles such widely varying matters as hearings for beer and wine license applications, hearing on admittance to state hospitals for the mentally ill and mentally retarded, juvenile work permits and temporary guardianships for special purposes.

     The judge is also responsible for calling elections, posting election notices and for receiving and canvassing the election returns. The county judge may perform marriages. A county judge in Texas may have judicial responsibility for certain criminal, civil and probate matters - responsibility for these functions vary from county to county. In those counties in which the judge has judicial responsibilities, the judge has appellate jurisdiction over matters arising from the justice courts. The county judge is also head of civil defense and disaster relief, county welfare and in counties under 225,000 population, the judge prepares the county budget along with the county auditor or county clerk.

Additional Duties

• Vice-Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Member of Sheppard Air Force Base Community Relations Committee
• Member Sheppard Military Affairs Committee
• Supervising court member for

- Human Relations Director

- Chief, Public Defender

- Law Librarian

- County Veterans Service Officer

- Switchboard Operator

- Human Resources Officer

- Information Systems Manager

- Records Management Officer

• Public Relations Officer
• Member, Chief Elected Officials Board for NORTEX Regional Planning Commission

Community Involvement

• Member First Presbyterian Church
• Member University Kiwanis Club
• Member Texas Association of County Judges and Commissioners
• Member West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association
• Chairman, County Information Resources Agency
• Director, Electra Chamber of Commerce
• Director, 4H Association
• Director, Work Services Corporation
• Judge Advocate, American Legion Post #168
• Director, Zavala Hispanic Cultural Committee
• Director, Wichita County Juvenile Board
• Director, Wichita County Bail Bond Board
• Director, MSU-Burns Fantasy of Lights
• Director, Texas Association of Counties Service Corporation
• Member, County Judge Education Committee
• Advisory Board Member
  • Campfire
  • American Red Cross
  • Northwest Texas Council of Boys Scouts
  • Straight Street