Government Code §54.656

(a) A judge may refer to a magistrate any criminal case or matter relating to a criminal case for proceedings involving: (1) a negotiated plea of guilty or nolo contendere and sentencing before the court; (2) a bond forfeiture, remittitur, and related proceedings; (3) a pretrial motion; (4) a writ of habeas corpus; (5) an examining trial; (6) an occupational driver's license; (7) a petition for an order of expunction under Chapter 55A , Code of Criminal Procedure; (8) an asset forfeiture hearing as provided by Chapter 59 , Code of Criminal Procedure; (9) a petition for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information or an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information that does not require a petition provided by Subchapter E-1 , Chapter 411 ; (10) a motion to modify or revoke community supervision or to proceed with an adjudication of guilt; (11) setting conditions, modifying, revoking, and surrendering of bonds, including surety bonds; (12) specialty court proceedings; (13) a waiver of extradition; and (14) any other matter the referring judge considers necessary and proper. (b) A judge may refer to a magistrate a civil case arising out of Chapter 59 , Code of Criminal Procedure, for any purpose authorized by that chapter, including issuing orders, accepting agreed judgments, enforcing judgments, and presiding over a case on the merits if a party has not requested a jury trial. (c) A magistrate may accept a plea of guilty from a defendant charged with misdemeanor, felony, or both misdemeanor and felony offenses. (d) A magistrate may select a jury. A magistrate may not preside over a criminal trial on the merits, whether or not the trial is before a jury. (e) A magistrate may not hear a jury trial on the merits of a bond forfeiture.