Chapter 5: The Court System In Texas

court decisions depending on previous rulings of other courts

the appearance that courts make objective decisions and not political ones

local courts that hear cases; juries determine the outcome of the cases heard in the court

higher-level courts that decide on points of the law and not questions of guilt or innocence

preliminary hearings for persons charged with a serious criminal offense

courts that do not keep a written record of their proceedings; cases on appeal begin as new cases in the appellate courts

a system of electing judges that involves appointment by the governor and periodic retention election

method used to select all judges (except municipal court judges) in Texas by using a ballot in which party identification is shown

election in which party identification is not formally declared

practice in Texas of voting for judges with familiar or popular names

system that allows voters to vote for all candidates of a single political party by making a single mark and that has resulted in an increase in the number of Republican judges

In Texas, the system of many judges getting the initial seat on the court by being appointed and later standing for election

juries of citizens that determine if a person will be charged with a crime

a hearing before a judge who decides if a person must stand trial; used on place of a grand jury

juries of citizens that determine the guilt or innocence of a person during a trial; pronounced petty juries

the rate at which criminal offenders commit crime after they leave the state’s custody