JP courts

Justice of the Peace courts in McLennan County

Six JP courts across five precincts handle fine-only cases and many of the county’s Class C warrants. Here is where each one is and how to reach it.

All six McLennan County JP courts

CourtAddressPhone
Precinct 1, Place 1501 Washington Ave., Suite 104-D, Waco, TX 76701(254) 757-5040
Precinct 1, Place 2501 Washington Ave., Suite 108, Waco, TX 76701(254) 757-5128
Precinct 2929 Elm Ave., Waco, TX 76704(254) 752-9353
Precinct 3201 N. Reagan, West, TX 76691(254) 826-3341
Precinct 4415A N. Johnson Dr., McGregor, TX 76657(254) 759-7558
Precinct 51800 Richter Ave., Waco, TX 76711(254) 752-4242

Addresses and phone numbers are from the county Justices of the Peace directory. Precinct 5 lists hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed noon to 1 p.m., with the last window intake at 4:30 p.m. Check the other offices’ hours by phone before you go.

What a Justice of the Peace court handles

JP courts hear Class C misdemeanors: offenses punishable by a fine only, with no jail time as a sentence. That covers most traffic tickets, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, minor-in-possession and similar citations filed by county agencies and the Department of Public Safety. The procedure for these courts is set out in Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 45.

City police tickets usually go to that city’s municipal court instead, not a JP court. A Waco Police citation, for example, goes to Waco Municipal Court.

JP warrants and bail

Missing a JP court date or failing to pay can lead to a capias pro fine or failure-to-appear warrant. If someone is arrested on a Class C warrant, the fine and bond amounts are usually small, and the court can often tell you by phone whether paying the amount owed will clear it. Call the precinct that issued the warrant.

Justices of the peace also act as magistrates. After an arrest on any charge, a magistrate warns the person of their rights and sets bail, as required by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 17 and Article 15.17. That is often a JP from one of the courts above.

Frequently asked questions

How many Justice of the Peace courts are in McLennan County?

There are six: Precinct 1 Place 1 and Place 2 at the downtown courthouse, Precinct 2 on Elm Avenue, Precinct 3 in West, Precinct 4 in McGregor and Precinct 5 on Richter Avenue in Waco.

Can a JP court warrant put someone in jail?

Yes. A Class C warrant can lead to an arrest, but the charge itself is fine-only. The court that issued the warrant can explain how to resolve it, often by paying or posting a small bond.

Related McLennan County guides

Last reviewed 2026-09-24. County offices change phone numbers, rooms and schedules; confirm with the office before you drive over. This directory is independent and is not McLennan County, a court, or a law firm. Nothing here is legal advice.

Call Chapman’s: (254) 855-9885