How the Texas Court System Works

Texas has two courts at the top of its state judicial system. Civil cases ultimately go to the Supreme Court of Texas; criminal cases go to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Below them, intermediate appellate courts review decisions from trial courts across the state.

The diagram below groups the courts by their role and uses connecting arrows to show common appeal routes. It includes the Texas Business Court and distinguishes the statewide Fifteenth Court of Appeals from the fourteen regional courts. A case does not have to pass through every level.

Start with the difference between a trial and an appeal

A trial court is where parties present evidence, witnesses testify, and a judge or jury decides the facts. An appellate court generally reviews the existing record and arguments about whether the law was applied correctly. It does not hear the case again with new witnesses.

There is an exception near the bottom of the chart: appeals from justice courts and municipal courts that are not courts of record generally involve a new trial in a county-level court. This is called a trial de novo. Appeals from municipal courts of record are reviewed on the record. Texas Judicial System pamphlet, pages 7–8.

Local courts: municipal and justice courts

Municipal courts handle city ordinance violations and fine-only criminal misdemeanors, including many traffic cases. Their civil jurisdiction is limited.

Justice courts, also called justice of the peace or JP courts, handle small claims, evictions, and other civil disputes within their jurisdiction, as well as fine-only criminal misdemeanors. They are a common entry point into the court system for everyday disputes. Texas Office of Court Administration, September 2026 court structure chart.

County-level courts: several names, different responsibilities

The chart groups three types of courts at the county level:

• Constitutional county courts. Each of Texas's 254 counties has one, though some no longer perform judicial work. Their responsibilities can include misdemeanor cases and appeals from local courts.
• County courts at law. The Legislature creates these courts to handle additional judicial work. Their authority varies by court and can include civil cases, Class A and B misdemeanors, and appeals from justice or municipal courts.
• Statutory probate courts. These specialized courts handle estates, guardianships, and related matters in certain counties.

The court's name alone does not tell you everything it can hear. County courts at law have different statutory assignments, and their jurisdiction can overlap with district courts. Texas Judicial Branch: Trial Courts.

District courts: major civil, family, and felony cases

District courts are Texas's trial courts of general jurisdiction. They hear felony prosecutions, divorces, disputes over land title, and many civil lawsuits. Some specialize in criminal, family, juvenile, or civil matters.

The diagram groups district and county-level courts in the same trial-court tier. They have different, sometimes overlapping assignments; district courts are not the routine next appeal from a county court. Texas Judicial Branch: Trial Courts.

Courts of appeals: the middle level

Texas has 15 intermediate courts of appeals. The First through Fourteenth serve geographic regions and hear both civil and criminal appeals from district and county courts. Cases are usually decided by three-justice panels.

The Fifteenth Court of Appeals has a different role: statewide jurisdiction over specified civil matters involving state government, subject to exceptions, and appeals from the Texas Business Court. It is part of the intermediate appellate level, not another step above the other fourteen courts. Texas Judicial Branch: Courts of Appeals.

The Texas Business Court appears alongside the other trial courts in the diagram. It is a specialized court for certain complex business disputes. Its qualifying cases can follow this route: Business Court → Fifteenth Court of Appeals → possible Supreme Court review. Texas Judicial System pamphlet, pages 9–14.

At the top: two different final destinations

The Supreme Court of Texas has final state appellate jurisdiction in civil and juvenile cases. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has final state appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases. The two courts sit alongside each other; the Texas Supreme Court is not an additional appeal above the Court of Criminal Appeals. Texas Office of Court Administration court structure chart.

After an intermediate appeal, review by the appropriate high court is generally discretionary: a party can ask, but the court does not have to take the case. Texas appellate review guidance.

A death sentence follows a special route. When the death penalty is imposed, the direct appeal goes from the trial court straight to the Court of Criminal Appeals. The dashed red arrow in the diagram shows this direct route. Other criminal appeals generally go through an intermediate court first. Court of Criminal Appeals: About the Court.

For example, an ordinary felony conviction, when appeal is available, typically goes from district court to a regional court of appeals, with possible further review by the Court of Criminal Appeals. A civil case from district court ordinarily follows the civil branch toward possible Supreme Court review. These are common routes; the right to appeal and the available steps depend on the case.

Find the courts behind the chart

Use the Referlex court directory to explore individual Texas courts. For the intermediate appellate courts, see How Many Courts of Appeals Does Texas Have?.