Texas courts have three levels.
Courts on the first level conduct trials,
and the losing party may “appeal” to
the higher two levels. Hover over a
court to learn about where it is located
and what types of cases it handles.

Texas courts have three levels. Courts on the first level conduct trials, and the losing party may “appeal” to the higher two levels. Hover over a court to learn about where it is located and what types of cases it handles.

overview of texas courts

Supreme Court
of Texas

Texas Court of
Criminal Appeals

DISTRICT
COURTS

COUNTY
COURTS

Specialty
COURTS

MUNICIPAL
COURTS

JUSTICE
COURTS

Additional Resources:

Texas Judicial Branch

litigants

You rarely expect to be involved in a court case. But then it happens–you receive a speeding ticket, or you are injured in a car wreck. What will the court process look like? This section of this project tells you “What to Expect” in four common types of cases.

Divorce

In this video you will hear Judge Scott Beauchamp and attorneys Britney Harrison and Sally Pretorious explain what to expect in your divorce case. Topics include what to do if you want a divorce, whether you need a lawyer, whether you have to go to court, and much more.

Traffic Ticket

In this video you will hear from municipal court prosecutor Michelle Voirin, criminal defense attorney Justin Holt, and Municipal Court Judge Lauren Sepúlveda. They will answer common questions like, “Do I have to go to court?”, “What happens if I plead guilty?”, “Do I need an attorney?”, “What happens at trial?”, and much more.

DWI

In this video you will hear Judge Raquel “Rocky” Jones, prosecutor Delayna Griffin, and criminal defense attorneys Daniel Lewis and Tommy Ashworth explain what to expect in your DWI case. They will discuss topics like what to do if you are arrested, possible defenses to a DWI charge, whether you need a lawyer, whether you will have to go to court, and much more.

Car Accident

In this video you will hear from plaintiff’s lawyer Andy Jones, defense lawyer Barbara Pelaez, and Judge Melody Wilkinson. They will explain what to expect in your car accident case, including the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit, what types of damages are available to a Plaintiff, and when to attempt to settle or mediate.

hiring a lawyer

It’s important to realize that different lawyers do different things – they focus on specific areas. You wouldn’t want to hire a family law attorney to represent you in bankruptcy court. So it’s important to think about your problem and consider what type of lawyer may be able to help.

Some common legal issues that lawyers specialize in are:

Personal Injury
Family Law
Probate/Estates
Criminal

Business Disputes
Landlord/Tenant and Property
Bankruptcy

PDF Guide to Hiring a Lawyer

Additional Resources:

Texas Law Help
State Bar of Texas Legal Services Referral Directory

media

These guides provide tips for lawyers to be strategic and adherent to the rules surrounding publicity of trial matters when interacting with the media.

These guides also provide advice to members of the media who are not lawyers on covering legal proceedings.

TIPS FOR LAWYERS

Citizens’ interest in legal matters is at an all-time high, bolstered by the advent of social media, the 24-hour news cycle, and entire networks and programming devoted to case coverage and analysis. Consequently, many lawyers have begun to harness the power of the media in their advocacy. While press conferences, media appearances, and interviews may be useful in advancing clients’ interests, lawyers should always aim to communicate relevant facts with impartiality. For more detailed information, click the link below:

PDF Media Guide for Lawyers

TIPS FOR MEDIA

Legal matters generally involve parties who have different versions of the story and the facts. Cases may be complex and involve legal terms unfamiliar to the public. Understanding the basics of the legal system, the differences in the types of courts, and the meaning of legal terms is important to accurately reporting on legal proceedings. For more detailed information, click the link below:

PDF Media Guide for Reporters

jurors

Jury Service

The United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution guarantee all people, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status, the right to trial by an impartial jury. Our system of justice, both civil and criminal, is founded on the idea that people whose rights are at stake should be able to present their case to a jury of their peers. The right to a jury trial is fundamental to safeguarding each American’s civil liberties and administering justice.

Jury service is a privilege that offers the average citizen an unequaled opportunity to influence and deliberate over fundamental matters of justice. The jury system has proven to be the fairest method for resolving civil disputes, and for determining guilt or innocence in criminal cases. By performing this important civic duty, jurors help ensure fairness and excellence in the administration of justice by federal and state courts.

PDF Guide to Jury Service