Changes

The three levels of appellate courts are:

The three levels of appellate courts are:

*Courts of Appeals, which hear appeals from County Courts and District Courts (except for capital felony cases where a death sentence was imposed)

*Courts of Appeals, which hear appeals from County Courts and District Courts (except for capital felony cases where a death sentence was imposed)

**The structure of these courts is confusing in some areas.  The 1st and 14th Courts of Appeals cover the same counties, both are seated in Houston, and appeals from the County and District Courts are randomly assigned between them.  Also, five counties within the 6th Court of Appeals are also within the geographical boundaries of other Courts (Hunt County is also in the 5th Court, the others in the 12th Court).

**The structure of these courts is confusing in some areas.  The 1st and 14th Courts of Appeals cover the same counties, both are seated in Houston, and appeals from the County and District Courts are randomly assigned between them.  Also, five counties within the 6th Court of Appeals are also within the geographical boundaries of other Courts (Hunt County is also in the 5th Court, the others are also in the 12th Court).

*Court of Criminal Appeals, which hears criminal case appeals from the Courts of Appeals as well as any death sentences which are automatically appealed.

*Court of Criminal Appeals, which hears criminal case appeals from the Courts of Appeals as well as any death sentences which are automatically appealed.

*Supreme Court, which hears civil case appeals from the Courts of Appeals (this includes any juvenile cases even when a criminal act is involved; in those cases the Supreme Court will defer to prior rulings of the Court of Criminal Appeals).

*Supreme Court, which hears civil case appeals from the Courts of Appeals (this includes any juvenile cases even when a criminal act is involved; in those cases the Supreme Court will defer to prior rulings of the Court of Criminal Appeals).