Criminal courts are usually trial courts with the authority to hear only matters relating to criminal prosecutions—and are said to have exclusive jurisdiction of criminal matters within the county, for example. And in some states there are appellate courts with exclusive jurisdiction over criminal appeals. For example, in Texas, the intermediate courts of appeals hear both civil and criminal cases, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for criminal matters, and hears appeals of criminal matters from the intermediate courts of appeal.
In Texas, criminal courts are primarily trial courts that handle criminal prosecutions and have exclusive jurisdiction over criminal matters within their respective counties. These courts are responsible for the adjudication of misdemeanors and felonies, ensuring due process for the accused. For cases that require an appeal, Texas has intermediate courts of appeals that handle both civil and criminal cases. However, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court for criminal cases in the state. It serves as the court of last resort for criminal matters, meaning that it has the final say in the interpretation of criminal law in Texas. The Court of Criminal Appeals hears appeals from the intermediate courts of appeal and has discretionary review over criminal cases. This structure ensures a specialized and hierarchical legal process for the handling of criminal appeals in Texas.
