Changes

The four levels of trial courts are:

The four levels of trial courts are:

*Municipal Courts, which handle violations of city ordinances and traffic offenses issued by local police officers (frequently these courts are not "courts of record", thus any appeal essentially becomes a new trial)

*Municipal Courts, which handle violations of city ordinances and traffic offenses issued by local police officers (frequently these courts are not "courts of record", thus any appeal essentially becomes a new trial),

*Justice of the Peace courts, which handle "Class C" misdemeanors (these offenses carry no jail time, only fines) along with "small claims" civil matters (the top limit for a claim is $10,000, but these courts have exclusive jurisdiction over [[eviction]] cases)

*Justice of the Peace courts, which handle "Class C" misdemeanors (these offenses carry no jail time, only fines) along with "small claims" civil matters (the top limit for a claim is $10,000, but these courts have exclusive jurisdiction over [[eviction]] cases),

*County Courts, which handle "Class A/B" misdemeanors (these offenses carry jail time), medium-sized civil matters, and probate cases; in addition, these courts also hear appeals from municipal and justice of the peace courts and are the final appellate level barring a constitutional issue (the term "County Court at Law" is used to designate County Courts which do not hear appeals)

*County Courts, which handle "Class A/B" misdemeanors (these offenses carry jail time), medium-sized civil matters, and probate cases; in addition, these courts also hear appeals from municipal and justice of the peace courts and are the final appellate level barring a constitutional issue (the term "County Court at Law" is used to designate County Courts which do not hear appeals), and

*District Courts, which handle all level of felony cases, divorce cases, civil matters (and can hear cases with an amount in controversy as low as $200), probate cases, and in a catch-all provision all other cases where jurisdiction doesn't lie in another court

*District Courts, which handle all level of felony cases, divorce cases, civil matters (and can hear cases with an amount in controversy as low as $200), probate cases, and in a catch-all provision all other cases where jurisdiction doesn't lie in another court.

**In some of the larger counties, the Legislature has established separate Probate Courts which hear these cases exclusively (and where more than one Probate Court exists, will designate a specific one to hear certain issues such as mental illness).  The Legislature has also designated some District Courts to hear certain cases such as criminal ones.

**In some of the larger counties, the Legislature has established separate Probate Courts which hear these cases exclusively (and where more than one Probate Court exists, will designate a specific one to hear certain issues such as mental illness).  The Legislature has also designated some District Courts to hear certain cases such as criminal ones.

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 are also 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, and

*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).