Texas Election Code 241.009 – Master of Discovery
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(a) As soon as practicable after receiving the contestee’s answer, the presiding officer of the house having jurisdiction shall appoint a master of discovery to supervise discovery proceedings and the taking of depositions, to issue any necessary process, to receive and report evidence, and to perform any other duties assigned by the presiding officer or by the committee to which the contest is referred.
(b) The master must be a member of the house in which the contest is pending.
Terms Used In Texas Election Code 241.009
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
(c) The presiding officer or the committee may limit the master’s authority in the same manner as a civil court in appointing a master in chancery.
(d) The master acts under the direction of the presiding officer before the case is referred to a committee and acts under the direction of the committee after the referral.
(e) The master’s rulings are subject to review by the committee to which the contest is referred unless otherwise provided by rules of the house.