How can one describe the large and complex structure of the Texas court system?
What is the jurisdiction and authority of each level of court? • At the highest level is the Texas Supreme Court for civil matters and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for criminal matters. • Both courts have nine justices that are elected to six-year terms. • Both courts have appellate jurisdiction. • The requirements for office include being a U.S. citizen, being a resident of Texas, being at least thirty-five years of age, and being either a practicing lawyer or having been judge for ten years. • You should note that all attorneys are licensed by the Texas Supreme Court and are members of the State Bar of Texas. • The fourteen Courts of Appeal are the next level of courts; they also have appellate jurisdiction. • The major trial courts are the district courts, which are responsible for conducting trials in civil and criminal cases, with some district courts allowed to specialize in a particular type of case. • There are also county judges, county courts at law, statutory probate
