Death investigation throughout the United States is conducted by medical examiners, coroners, or combined systems, based on the laws of individual states. Larger counties in Texas employ medical examiners, but smaller counties rely on justices of the peace. Texas is unique in the use of justices of the peace in the place of county coroners. These justices have multiple responsibilities, including small claims courts, civil marriages, and inquests and death certification. In Texas counties with medical examiner offices, the justice of the peace relinquishes the responsibilities of death investigation and certification.
Texas State Historical Association: a digital gateway to Texas history [Internet].Denton (TX): the Association; c2014. Justice of the peace; [cited 2013 Dec 11]. Available from: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/jqj01).
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Texas State Historical Association: a digital gateway to Texas history [Internet].Denton (TX): the Association; c2014. Forensic medicine; [cited 2013 Dec 11]. Available from: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/sif01.
