Question

Describe how the texas court system is set up. describe how the judges get their jobs. explain the civil and criminal laws in texas today.

Answer 1

_{The Texas court system comprises of:}

• _{The Supreme Court – the highest state appellate court of civil matters}
• _{A Court of Criminal Appeals – the highest state appellate court for criminal matters}
• _{14 Courts of Appeals that have intermediate appellate jurisdiction in civil as well as criminal cases}

_{The major trial courts in Texas are the district courts, where criminal and civil cases are tried. And, some district courts specialize in juvenile, family law and other particular types of cases.}

_{How Judges Get Their Job in Texas?}

_{Experience may vary depending upon the type of judgeship. For example, in Texas, a county criminal court judge must be at least 25 years old with 4+ years of experience practicing law. On the other hand, a criminal appeals court judge must have attained the age of at least 35 years with 10 years of experience either as a judge or lawyer.}

_{Qualifications to be a judge in Texas}

_{To be able to serve on the district courts, a judge must be:}

_{a U.S. citizen; a Texas resident; Licensed law practitioner in the state;}

_{Between the ages of 25 and 75; a practicing lawyer and/or state judge for at least four years; and a resident of his/ her respective judicial district for a minimum of two years. To become a judge, you need to earn a Law Degree.}

_{Before 1856, common law governed the criminal law in Texas, with the exception of a few penal statutes. The Texas criminal law was first codified as the Texas Penal Code of 1856. In the year 1854, the fifth Legislature passed an act according to which the Governor was required to appoint a commission for codifying the civil and criminal laws of Texas. Only the Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure (referred to as the "Old Codes) were passed by the sixth Legislature and were effective as of February 1, 1857.}

_{An action/ crime is handled under civil or criminal law depending upon the law that has been broken and individual circumstances. criminal law deals with individual offenses against federal or state government whereas disputes between two entities fall in civil law. determination of guilt, punishment and handling varies depending on the type of crime.}