Chapter 9 - Texas Govt

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Texas Supreme Court

Back 1

the highest civil court in Texas; consists of nine justices and has final state appellate authority over civil cases, page 277

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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Back 2

the highest criminal court in Texas; consists of nine justices and has final state appellate authority over criminal cases, page 279

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Courts of appeal

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the 14 intermediate-level appellate courts that hear appeals from district and county courts to determine whether the decisions of these lower courts followed legal principles and court procedures, page 279

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District courts

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the major trial courts in Texas, which usually have general jurisdiction over a broad range of civil and criminal cases, page 279

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County judge

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the person in each of Texas's 254 counties who presides over the county court and the county commissioners' court, with responsibility for the administration of county government; some county judges carry out judicial responsibilities, page 279

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County courts

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the courts that exist in some counties that are presided over by county judges, page 279

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Statutory county courts at law

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courts that tend to hear less serious cases than those heard by district courts, page 280

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Statutory probate courts

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specialized courts whose jurisdiction is limited to probate and guardianship matters, page 280

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Justice of the peace courts

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local trial courts with limited jurisdiction over small claims and very minor criminal misdemeanors, page 280

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Municipal courts

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local trial courts with limited jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances and very minor criminal misdemeanors, page 281

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Ordinance

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a regulation enacted by a city government each of Texas's incorporated cities and towns, page 282

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Civil law

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a branch of law that deals with disputes, usually between private individuals over relationships, obligations, and responsibility, page 282

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Criminal law

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the branch of law that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and specifies punishment for criminal acts, page 282

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Complaint

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the presentation of a grievance by the plaintiff in a civil case, page 282

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Answer

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the presentation of a defendant's defense against an allegation in a civil case, page 282

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Contingent fee

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a fee paid to the lawyer in a civil case which is contingent on winning the case, page 282

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Preponderance of the evidence

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the standard of proof in a civil jury case, by which the plaintiff must show that the defendant is more likely than not the cause of the harm suffered by the plaintiff, page 283

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Capital case

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a criminal case in which the death penalty is a possible punishment, page 283

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Felony

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a serious criminal offense, punishable by a prison sentence or a fine. A capital felony is possibly punishable by death, page 284

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Misdemeanor

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a minor criminal offense, usually punishable by a fine or a jail sentence, page 284

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Grand jury

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jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence, page 284

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Indictment

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a written statement issued by a grand jury that charges a suspect with a crime and states that a trial is warranted, page 284

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Bench trial

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a trial held without a jury and before only a judge, page 284

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Plea bargain

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negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty in return for the state's agreement to reduce the severity of the criminal charge or prison sentence the defendant is facing, page 284

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Beyond a reasonable doubt

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the legal standard in criminal cases, which requires the prosecution to prove that a reasonable doubt of innocence does not exist, page 285

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En banc

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referring to an appellate hearing with all judges participating, page 293

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Retention election

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an election in which voters decide whether to keep an incumbent in office by voting 'yes' or 'no' to retain the incumbent and where there is no opposing candidate, page 295

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Merit selection

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a judicial reform under which judges would be nominated by a blue-ribbon committee, would be appointed by the governor, and, after a brief period in office, would run in a retention election, page 296

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Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

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a judicial reform that places limits on judicial campaign contributions, page 298