Each state’s constitution and laws establish the state’s courts, which interpret state laws (and generally not federal laws). A court of last resort, often known as a supreme court, is usually the highest court in the state. Some states also have an intermediate court of appeals. Below these intermediate courts of appeal are the state trial courts, where most lawsuits begin. State trial courts are referred to differently in different states—often as district courts, circuit courts, or superior courts.
State courts are often courts of general jurisdiction—meaning they hear all types of cases—involving criminal law, family law, probate law, and general disputes involving money and property. But more populated counties often have courts of specific jurisdiction, such as family courts that only hear family law matters (divorce, child custody, child support); criminal courts that only hear criminal matters; and probate courts that only handle the probate of estates and related litigation.
In Texas, the judicial system is structured with a bifurcated appellate level consisting of the Texas Supreme Court, which is the court of last resort for civil and juvenile cases, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which is the highest court for criminal cases. Below these are the intermediate appellate courts known as the Texas Courts of Appeals, which review cases from the trial courts upon appeal. Texas has 14 Courts of Appeals situated in different regions of the state. At the trial level, Texas has district courts, county-level courts, and justice of the peace and municipal courts. District courts are the primary trial courts of general jurisdiction, handling a wide range of cases including criminal, civil, family, and juvenile matters. County-level courts include Constitutional County Courts, County Courts at Law, and Probate Courts, with varying jurisdiction depending on the size and needs of the county. Some counties have specific courts for family law, criminal cases, and probate matters, reflecting the specialization based on case type and volume. The justice of the peace and municipal courts typically handle lower-level offenses and small claims. This structure allows the Texas state court system to manage a diverse array of legal issues, from minor disputes to complex litigation.
