Federal and State Court Systems - Key Terms (Vocabulary)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the major terms and definitions related to the federal court system and the Texas state court system as presented in the notes.

Article III of the US Constitution

Established the federal court system.

Judiciary Act of 1789

Created 13 courts, one for each of the original states.

Circuit courts (circuit riders)

The original three circuit courts with judges who rode circuit to hear cases.

US Supreme Court

Highest court in the United States; final authority on federal law; lifetime appointments for justices.

US District Courts

Trial courts of the federal system; 94 districts; judges appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate; serve lifetime terms.

Magistrate Courts

Created by the Federal Magistrate’s Act of 1968; appointed by a district court judge; full-time 8-year term; part-time 4-year term.

Federal Magistrate’s Act of 1968

Legislation creating magistrate courts within the federal system.

Court of Appeals (US) / Appellate Court / Circuit Court

Appellate courts: 12 regional circuit courts of appeal plus the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; no jury trials; judges appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate; lifetime appointments; usually three-judge panels.

Lifetime appointment

Judges on federal courts typically serve for life (subject to retirement) after appointment and Senate confirmation.

US Supreme Court responsibilities

Decides cases where there is a difference of opinion among appellate courts or important constitutional questions; final authority; binding on the federal government.

Final appellate jurisdiction (civil and juvenile)

Texas Supreme Court has final authority in civil and juvenile matters; 9 elected justices; located in Austin; licenses attorneys.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Final appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases in Texas; 9 elected judges; located in Austin.

Courts of Appeals (Texas)

14 regional appellate courts; about 80 justices; elected.

District Courts (Texas)

456 district courts; 456 judges; districts may be single or multi-county; judges elected; must be licensed attorneys.

County Courts (Texas)

Constitutional county courts and statutory county courts; 509 total; 254 constitutional, 237 statutory, 18 statutory probate; judges elected.

Justice Courts (Texas)

819 justice courts; Justices of the Peace; elected; generally not required to be licensed attorneys.

Municipal Courts (Texas)

926 municipal courts; municipal judges hired by the city; handle Class C misdemeanors and ordinance offenses; fines up to $2,000 for certain ordinances and up to $500 for others.

Class C misdemeanor

Misdemeanor punishable by a fine only (no confinement).

Statutory probate courts

18 probate courts in Texas; handle probate matters.

Structure of the State Court System

Began with justice/municipal courts and ends with the Texas Supreme Court or the Court of Criminal Appeals; includes Courts of Appeals, District Courts, County Courts, and Justice/Municipal Courts.

Licensing and election of judges (Texas)

In Texas, most judges are elected; district judges must be licensed attorneys.