County Courts Case Study
According to the textbook, there is a hierarchy of courts in the judiciary system. All the courts share certain functions, however they also vary in their responsibilities.
Municipal Courts: Incorporated cities have municipal courts. A municipal court has exclusive jurisdiction to try any violations of city ordinances. They handle minor violations of the law, such as class C misdemeanors for which punishment is a fine of $500 or less and isn't punishable by a jail sentence. Most cases in Municipal courts involve traffic and parking violations.
Justice of the Peace: The Texas Constitution requires that county commissioners establish at least one and not more than eight justice per precincts. The Texas Judicial Council determined that their were 817 justices in 2013. Justice of the Peace have …show more content…
The Texas Constitution states requires that the county judge be elected by voters for a four- year term. County courts handle probate and other civil matters in which dispute is between $200 and $10,000; their criminal jurisdiction is restricted to only serious misdemeanors for which punishment is a fine greater than $500 or a jail sentence not to exceed one year. More than three-fifths of cases disposed in county courts are criminal, like drugs, theft, and DUI's.
District Courts: District courts are the chief trial courts of the state.There are 457 district courts and each court functions as single- judge courts. District courts have jurisdiction in felony cases, which is one- third of their caseload. Civil cases in which the matter of dispute involves exceeds $200.Juvenile cases are usually tried in district courts. District courts exercise criminal and civil jurisdiction.
Court of Appeals: There are fourteen court of appeals in Texas. They hear criminal and civil cases from district and county courts in their area. Only a small percentage of trial court cases are
Municipal Courts: Incorporated cities have municipal courts. A municipal court has exclusive jurisdiction to try any violations of city ordinances. They handle minor violations of the law, such as class C misdemeanors for which punishment is a fine of $500 or less and isn't punishable by a jail sentence. Most cases in Municipal courts involve traffic and parking violations.
Justice of the Peace: The Texas Constitution requires that county commissioners establish at least one and not more than eight justice per precincts. The Texas Judicial Council determined that their were 817 justices in 2013. Justice of the Peace have …show more content…
The Texas Constitution states requires that the county judge be elected by voters for a four- year term. County courts handle probate and other civil matters in which dispute is between $200 and $10,000; their criminal jurisdiction is restricted to only serious misdemeanors for which punishment is a fine greater than $500 or a jail sentence not to exceed one year. More than three-fifths of cases disposed in county courts are criminal, like drugs, theft, and DUI's.
District Courts: District courts are the chief trial courts of the state.There are 457 district courts and each court functions as single- judge courts. District courts have jurisdiction in felony cases, which is one- third of their caseload. Civil cases in which the matter of dispute involves exceeds $200.Juvenile cases are usually tried in district courts. District courts exercise criminal and civil jurisdiction.
Court of Appeals: There are fourteen court of appeals in Texas. They hear criminal and civil cases from district and county courts in their area. Only a small percentage of trial court cases are