The Hays County Commissioners Court took what is being called a “huge” step in the journey towards lowering the jail population last week when it created a Magistrate Division that would serve both district courts and county courts-at-law.

Funds for the division were set aside during the FY 2020 budget discussions under the “umbrella” of district courts, noted Pct. 3 Commissioner Lon Shell, who also said the courts have been working on the plan ever since. Shell sponsored ...