Structure of the Texas Court System

The structure of the Texas court system is set up as a bifurcated system, meaning there are two highest courts in the state – one for criminal and one for civil cases. The table below depicts the structure of the Texas court system with some additional jurisdiction, and court information. Note that Juvenile Courts preside in the District Courts- In Texas a juvenile is defined as young as 10 years old, and a juvenile can be convicted as an adult as young as 14 years old. ^[1]

Highest Courts

Texas Supreme Court is the highest court in the state over civil and juvenile cases while Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has the final appellate authority over criminal cases. Particularly, death penalty cases are directly and automatically appealed from the District Courts to Texas Court of Criminal Appeals bypassing Courts of Appeals. In each court, 9 judges are elected to serve 6-year terms and all 9 judges hear and decide cases in a majority vote.

Courts of Appeals

There are 14 Courts of Appeals regionally distributed within Texas. These are intermediate appellate courts hearing appeals from District and County Courts.

District Courts

District Courts and major trial courts in Texas. They have exclusive jurisdiction over felony cases and share civil jurisdiction with County Courts. Death penalty cases are automatically appealed to Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

County Courts

There are three types of county courts in the state. Every county in the state has a constitutional county court and some counties have additional county courts called statutory county courts. Both have jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes and civil cases. In addition, some counties also has statutory probate courts which only hears probate matters. County Courts also hear appeals from Justice and Municipal Courts.

Justice and Municipal Courts

Justice and Municipal Courts are the lowest courts in the state with jurisdiction over minor misdemeanors and small claims. Appeals are heard at County Courts by trial de novo, because most Justice and Municipal Courts are not courts of record.