Judiciary of Texas
Understanding the structure and functions of the Texas court system
County Courts at Law
County Courts at Law, also called Statutory County Courts, are a type of trial court presided over by…
Jury Trial
Understanding the role of juries in the court system, and the responsibilities of jurors.
Supreme Court of Texas
Understanding the structure and function of Texas' highest civil court
Municipal Courts in Texas
Overview Municipal courts in Texas are the judicial organ of city government. These courts primarily handle traffic cases,…
Justice of the Peace Courts
Overview Justice of the peace courts, also called justice courts, are lower courts in Texas that have jurisdiction…
Texas Judicial Council
The Texas Judicial Council is the policy-making body for the Texas judiciary, consisting of 24 members, including judges,…
Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct
Overview The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct is an independent state agency responsible for investigating allegations of judicial…
Specialty Courts in Texas
Overview Specialty courts in Texas are established by county governments to handle a particular type of crime or…
State Bar of Texas
The State Bar of Texas is an agency of the Texas judiciary responsible for overseeing all attorneys licensed to practice…
State Prosecuting Attorney
The State Prosecuting Attorney is the highest criminal prosecutor in Texas, and the head of a very small…
Grand Jury
Understanding the role of grand juries in the criminal process.
Federal Courts in Texas
Jurisdiction of Texas Federal Courts Federal courts in Texas have jurisdiction over cases that involve violations of federal…
District Courts in Texas
Overview District courts in Texas are trial courts where a judge or jury decides a criminal or civil…
Texas Courts of Appeals
Regional appellate courts responsible for reviewing both civil and criminal cases
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Overview The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest appeals court for criminal matters in the State…
Office of Court Administration
The Office of Court Administration is an agency of the Texas judicial branch that operates under the supervision…
The Origins of Texas’ System of Two High Courts
Texas and Oklahoma are unique among the United States in having two courts of last resort, each with…
Probate Courts
Purpose of Probate Courts Probate courts are specialized courts responsible for managing inheritance disputes and for handling the…
Constitutional County Courts
Overview Constitutional county courts in Texas are courts presided over by the county judge, or chief executive of a…