Texas Courts

1
Texas Courts
2
Clints Review Session

• Thursday, April 5
• 500 - 620
• Room 222 Wooten Hall

3
Administrative Matters

• Exam on Friday
• Bring 2 pencil!!!
• Next week
• Friday 13th, in-class film
• Reading for the 13th moved to Monday 16th

4
Organization of Texas Courts

• Complex, decentralized
• Why?
• Supreme Courts
• Supreme Court
• Court of Criminal Appeals

5
Judicial Selection

• Municipal Judges
• Most appointed by city governing body
• Everyone else
• Partisan elections
• Terms
• Municipal 2 years
• All other trial courts 4 years
• Appellate courts 6 years

6
Accountability v. Independence
7
Demographics of Texas Courts
 
 
 
8
Filling Vacancies

• Governor appoints
• Advice and consent of state senate
• Senatorial courtesy