The Juvenile Justice Code is Title 3 of the Texas Family Code. The courts which try juvenile cases are civil, family courts. The offenses with which juveniles are charged are violations of the Penal Code. The juvenile courts now operate under the Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Family Code, the Texas Penal Code and parts of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Appeals of juvenile cases are as in civil cases.
Specialized knowledge is needed to effectively represent clients in juvenile cases.
This includes knowledge of the Juvenile Justice Code, the Texas Penal Code, the Texas Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure, the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence and Discovery, sections of the Traffic Code, Mental Health Code, Human Resources Code, and the Education Code. Effective practitioners need to be familiar with Federal and State Appellate case law, the Juvenile Probation Department, Texas Youth Commission, and the many private placements available in Juvenile cases. Knowledge of landmark decisions of the United States Supreme Court is especially important, as well as decisions of the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. 2. Certification in Family Law specifically excludes Juvenile Law. Certification in Criminal Law and Civil Trial Law does not include Juvenile Law.