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Courts in Texas
| More information on Texas's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
The courts in Texas include a state court system and eight federal courts.
State courts
The Texas court system consists of the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, courts of appeals, district courts, county courts, county courts at law, probate courts, justice of the peace courts and municipal courts.[1]
Appellate Courts
The Supreme Court is one of two courts of last resort in the state. It handles appeals of civil and juvenile cases. [2]
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
The Court of Criminal Appeals is the second of two courts of last resort. It handles appeals for criminal matters in the state. [3]
The courts of appeals are the state's intermediate appellate court and are composed of 14 different courts, or judicial districts. [4]
Trial Courts
The district courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction. There are over 450 district courts in Texas, and each county has at least one.[5]
There is one county court in each of Texas' 254 counties. These courts hear probate cases, class A and B misdemeanor criminal cases and appeals from the justice of the peace and municipal courts, if no county courts at law are in the county. The county judge is the administrative leader of the rest of the county government.
There are 227 county courts at law in Texas. These courts were created by the Texas Legislature to aid the constitutional county courts. The jurisdiction of each county court at law varies, but they usually hear appeals from lower courts.[6]
Texas Statutory Probate Courts
In the counties where probate courts are located, these statutory courts take the place of the constitutional county courts in probate matters, guardianship cases and mental health commitments.[7]
Texas Justice of the Peace Courts
There are 822 justice of the peace courts in the state. These courts deal with less serious minor criminal cases, minor civil matters and small claims.[8]
There are 915 municipal courts in Texas that deal with violations of city ordinances and have the same jurisdiction over minor criminal cases as the justice of the peace courts. Municipal courts do not have jurisdiction in most civil cases.[9]
Federal courts
There are 8 federal courts in Texas.
- Eastern District of Texas
- Northern District of Texas
- Southern District of Texas
- Western District of Texas
- Eastern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court
- Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court
- Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court
- Western District of Texas Bankruptcy Court[10]
Appeals from Texas' federal courts are heard in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Texas Courts, "Texas Court Structure"
- ↑ Texas Courts, "Supreme Court"
- ↑ Texas Courts, "Court of Criminal Appeals"
- ↑ Texas Courts, "Court of Appeals"
- ↑ Texas Courts, "District Courts"
- ↑ Texas Courts, "County Courts"
- ↑ Texas Courts, "Probate Courts"
- ↑ Texas Courts, "Justice of the Peace Courts"
- ↑ Texas Courts, "Municipal Courts"
- ↑ List of U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas
State courts:
Texas Supreme Court • Texas Court of Appeals • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas District Courts • Texas County Courts • Texas County Courts at Law • Texas Statutory Probate Courts • Texas Justice of the Peace Courts
State resources:
Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas
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