David Jahn

As a member of the state Judicial Branch Certification Commission, proposed a settlement requiring Nor-Cen-Tex Guardianship to close in an orderly way before surrendering its certification. The commission approved safeguards for transferring nine guardianships in Hood and Parker counties.

May 1, 2026

Source: txcourts.gov

As a member of the state Judicial Branch Certification Commission, proposed permanently revoking David Laurel's court reporter certification. The commission approved the motion; one member opposed it and another withdrew from deciding it.

May 1, 2026

Source: txcourts.gov

As a member of the state Judicial Branch Certification Commission, moved or seconded four settlements disciplining certified process servers and a court reporter. They included a probated suspension with a $500 fine, two reprimands and a permanent revocation. The commission approved all four.

February 6, 2026

Source: txcourts.gov

Signed a rule requiring every lawyer and person representing themselves to submit an artificial intelligence certification. Humans had to check computer-generated legal content against traditional sources. Filers remained responsible for accuracy and could face penalties.

December 12, 2025

Source: topics.txcourts.gov

Contributed as an author or editor to the fourth edition of Texas' adult mental health court guide. It explained legal procedures, patient rights and treatment options for judges and lawyers.

September 9, 2025

Source: texasjcmh.gov

Contributed as an author or editor to the Eliminate the Wait guide. It gave police, courts, lawyers and care providers checklists for reducing jail waits for treatment needed before a person could stand trial.

September 9, 2025

Source: texasjcmh.gov

Signed a rule requiring a $600 deposit for court-appointed lawyers in heirship and guardianship cases, with legal exemptions for some guardianship applicants. Unused money had to be returned within 30 days of the fee order.

January 27, 2025

Source: dentoncounty.gov

Signed a policy requiring lawyers when people represented estates or others in probate and guardianship cases. People could represent their own interests. Guardians could file annual personal-care reports without a lawyer.

October 1, 2024

Source: dentoncounty.gov

Voted to accept state juvenile justice funding for 2024 and 2025 and use part of it for an intake probation officer omitted from the proposed budget. The board approved it.

August 10, 2023

Source: dentoncounty.gov

Signed a rule conducting mental health hearings by secure video or telephone, subject to state law. Patients appeared from treatment facilities. The public could observe in the associate judge's courtroom.

February 14, 2023

Source: dentoncounty.gov

Moderated a statewide discussion on emergency mental health detention. He explained the law and stressed balancing patients' freedom with public safety. Judges, police, hospitals and jails discussed problems in the detention process.

December 14, 2022

Source: texasjcmh.gov

Co-hosted a Denton workshop mapping how adults with mental health needs moved through the criminal justice system. Participants identified gaps and treatment opportunities from emergency response through release from jail.

March 4, 2022

Source: texasjcmh.gov

Co-hosted a two-day Denton workshop on children with mental health needs in the juvenile justice system. Participants mapped service gaps and developed an action plan involving schools, courts, police and care providers.

July 29, 2021

Source: texasjcmh.gov

Signed an order excluding Fali Holdings' property valuation witness in a highway land-taking case. He allowed an appeal before trial. The appeals court later declined that appeal and found no abuse of discretion in excluding the unsupported valuation.

February 24, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: search.txcourts.gov

Signed findings supporting dismissal of a landowner's late objection to a state land-taking award. He found mailing notice to the address in the court file was sufficient. The appeals court upheld that result in February 2026.

February 5, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: search.txcourts.gov

Led a committee that developed more than 60 mental health forms for courts statewide. Seven received official approval protecting properly completed forms from rejection. They covered detention, treatment and other mental health proceedings.

April 12, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence

Source: texasjcmh.gov