Exam. 2 Review Chapter 5- Court system in Texas

Structure of JS, Heirarchy of Tx Courts, Judicial Selection and Controversy

Dual Court System (Bifurcuated)

Tx has 2 seperate high courts: Texas supreme court (civil) And Tx Court of criminal appeals (Criminal Cases)

Trial Courts

Courts of original jurisdiction where cases are first heard, evidence is presented and verdict is rendered (district, county courts)

Appellate Courts

Courts that review the decisions of lpwer courts. Focuses on whether the trial court correctly applied the law and followed proper procedure

Magistrate Functions

Duties performed by Judges after an arrest, such as advising the suspect of their rights and setting bail

Precedent

A previous court ruling. Serves as authoritative rule for deciding subssequent cases

Partisan Election

Primary method for selecting most judges, wheere candidates are openly identified by their party affiliation

NonPartisan Election

An election where candidartes run wirthout party labels (not used for major state judicial elections)

Appointive-Elective system

System where the governor first appoints a judge to fill a vacancy, appointee runs an incumbent in the next partisan election

Merit system (Missouri System)

non-partisan commission nominates candidates, governor appoints one, and judge faces a retention election

Name Familiarity

A factor in judicial eleections where voters who recognize a name

Objectivity

Concept that judges should be impartial and base decisions purely on law and facts

Information or Administrative Hearing

Prosecutors document used to charge a defendant with a misdemeanor