Supreme Court of Texas
The highest court in the U.S. state of Texas
Supreme Court of Texas | |
---|---|
![]() Seal of the Supreme Court | |
Established | February 19, 1846[1] |
Location | Austin, Texas |
Coordinates | 30°16′33″N 97°44′28″W / 30.27583°N 97.74111°W / 30.27583; -97.74111Coordinates: 30°16′33″N 97°44′28″W / 30.27583°N 97.74111°W / 30.27583; -97.74111 |
Composition method | Election |
Authorized by | Constitution of Texas |
Appeals to | Supreme Court of the United States |
Judge term length | 6 years; renewable |
Number of positions | 9 |
Website | Official website |
Chief Justice | |
Currently | Nathan Hecht |
Since | October 1, 2013 |
Jurist term ends | December 31, 2026 |
The Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) is the court of last resort for civil appeals (including juvenile delinquency cases, which are categorized as civil under the Texas Family Code) in the U.S. state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA), is the court of last resort in criminal cases.
The Court has its seat at the Supreme Court Building on the State Capitol grounds in Austin, Texas.[2]
Like the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and eight associate justices. Unlike the SCOTUS, however, all nine positions are elected, with a term of office of six years with no term limit, rather than life tenure. All members typically belong to the same party because all are elected in statewide races, rather than by the electorates of smaller appellate districts, as the justices on the intermediate appellate courts are. Although there are fourteen such courts, the state is geographically divided into thirteen. Two districts (the 1st and the 14th) are coextensive. The First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals serve the same ten counties, sit in the same Downtown Houston Courthouse, and also share a single clerk.
The Texas Supreme Court was established in 1846 to replace the Supreme Court of the Republic of Texas. It meets in Downtown Austin, Texas in an office building near the Texas State Capitol.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Supreme Court Building on Map of Texas Capitol Complex" (PDF). Texas Judiciary Website. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
Where can I visit?
Texas State Capitol
State capitol building of the U.S. state of Texas
Texas Senate
Texas State University System
Texas Travesty
Railroad Commission of Texas
Supreme Court of Texas
The highest court in the U.S. state of Texas (for civil appeals)
Texas Public Policy Foundation
Texas Governor's Mansion
United States historic place
General Land Office Building (Austin, Texas)
United States historic place
Dewitt C. Greer State Highway Building
United States historic place
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