Exam 4: Texas Judicial System Flashcards
What are considered court state issue?
- criminal matters: murder, drugs, theft, speeding tickets
2.divorce/ family matter
- welfare
- will, inheritances, estates
- real estate & property
- business contracts
- personal injury
what courts operate under original jurisdiction in the TX court system?
municipal court
justice court
county court
district court
what courts operate under appellate jurisdiction in the TX court system?
court of appeals
Court of criminal appeals
Texas Supreme Court
What type of cases does the municipal court oversee?
- misdemeanors punishable by fines (no jail time)
- city violations up to $2,000:
what are some examples of cases seen in the municipal court
pet violations, property maintenance
speeding tickets
small possession of marijuana
Sarah has a pet violation case what court would she be going to
municipal court
what is unique about judges in municipal and justice courts?
they do not have to have a law degree
What type of cases are seen in justice courts?
- civil actions under 10,000
- small claims
What type of cases does the county court oversee?
- civil cases from 200 - $10,000
- probates (wills)
- misdemeanors with fines greater than $500 or jail sentences
county courts can have
appeals from lower courts (justice court)
What are some examples of cases seen in the county court?
- small theft
- public intoxication
- small possession of cocaine
the county courts serve as
the 1st point of appeal
What types of cases does the District court oversees?
- divorce or contested probates (wills) –> from county courts
- felony criminal matters
- juvenile criminal matters (under the age of 18)
what are some examples of cases seen in the districts courts?
- major drug dealer
- murder
- assault with a deadly weapon
- someone facing jail time for up to a year and a half to life in prison
What types of cases are seen in the court of appeals?
appeals from the county or district court
justice court =
civil base courts
What type of cases does the court of criminal appeals oversees?
- FINAL appellate jurisdiction for criminal cases
- Death Penalty Appeals
how many court of criminal appeals are there?
Just ONE
what is the structure of the court of criminal appeals?
9 judges
What is the intermediate appellate courts
court of appeals
what are the highest appellate courts
court of criminal appeals
texas supreme court
What cases are seen in the Texas Supreme court?
Final appellate jurisdiction for civil and juvenile
why does the texas supreme court deal with final appellate cases of juveniles?
to make sure that they are not being tried as adults
how many texas supreme courts are there?
just ONE
what is the structure of the TX supreme court?
9 justices
who electes judges of the Texas Court System?
ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE
what occurs if their is a vacancy of a judge in the TX court system before an election?
the governor will appoint a judge until the next election
how long do highest and intermediate appellate judges/ justices serve?
6 years
how long do county, district, municipal, and justice judges serve for?
4 years
what is the judicial campaign fairness act of 1995
stated that:
1. no more than $5,000 per election per person
- no more than $30,000 per law firm per election
Why was the judicial campaign fairness act of 1995 created?
to prevent corruption
