This section deals with the relationship between a Justice of the Peace and a private autopsy facility only.
A private autopsy facility provides forensic autopsy and laboratory services to Justices of the Peace in counties that do not have a Medical Examiner. The Justice of the Peace has the discretion to contract with either a neighboring Medical Examiner or a private autopsy facility to assist with the death investigation.
The private autopsy facility provides the results of the autopsy to the Justice of the Peace. The Justice of the Peace uses these results along with the law enforcement investigation to determine the cause and manner of death.
Statutes that apply to Justices of the Peace (Subchapter A)