Pinnacle Gas Treating, Inc. v. Read

This case presents the question whether a district judge had jurisdiction to sign orders in a condemnation case pending in another district court in the same county. The court of appeals held that the district judge did not have jurisdiction • because there had been no exchange of benches. 143 S.W.3d at 169. We hold there was jurisdiction; we therefore reverse the decision of the court of appeals and remand the case to the trial court.

In 1997, Pinnacle Gas Treating, Inc. initiated eight condemnation proceedings in Leon County. Pursuant to the Property Code, the district clerk distributed the…