MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas — In any death related investigation, a job needs to be done: finding the cause of death.
According to Midland County Judge Terry Johnson, the county has never had a medical examiner, they've always operated under a Justice of the Peace (JP) system.
"They're dealing with stuff 24/7 along with their JP duties," said Judge Johnson.
Very soon though, the JP won't have to worry about fulfilling those responsibilities.
That's why Tuesday's county commissioners meeting was another crucial step toward the county having their first ever medical examiner.
"This will relieve them of that responsibility, more responsibility to be put on our death investigators," said Judge Johnson. "We have three right now and then it will transition to the medical examiner. He'll be the one determining the cause of death and signing death certificates on behalf of Midland County."
The meeting served as a way to update Midlanders on where the county stands in the process.
Just down the way, Ector County has their own medical examiner which is why Midland County is referencing how they run their business.
"Right now, I'm waiting on a contract from Ector County of what they have between their medical examiner and the county," Judge Johnson continued. "I hope to have it today, get it to our County Attorney, have him approve it. Once he approves it, then allow the court to look at it and see if there's any additions or subtractions they want in there. And then once they approve the contract, then we can offer the job to this physician."
Thankfully, the search for applicants presents as no difficult task.
"The past director for Midland Memorial Hospital, I talked to him and he had a couple of folks that he suggested might be interested," Judge Johnson said. "I talked to about three and one was very interested and highly qualified from everything I talked to him."
However, fulfilling this role is not the finish line.
"The purpose of doing this and next stepping stone would be to go to a coroner's office," Judge Johnson said.
All 17 counties in the Permian Basin would be in partnership to have a more efficient way of handling a life gone too soon.