page_title: Judiciary of Texas
section_title: Officers
hierarchical_section_title: Judiciary of Texas / Officers
caption_attribution_description: English: Judge Roy Bean. Deutsch: Richter Roy Bean.
context_page_description: The structure of the judiciary of Texas is laid out in Article 5 of the Constitution of Texas and is further defined by statute, in particular the Texas Government Code and Texas Probate Code. The structure is complex, featuring many layers of courts, numerous instances of overlapping jurisdiction, several differences between counties, as well as an unusual bifurcated appellate system at the top level found in only one other state: Oklahoma. Municipal Courts are the most active courts, with County Courts and District Courts handling most other cases and often sharing the same courthouse.
  Administration is the responsibility of the Supreme Court of Texas, which is aided by the Texas Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council and the State Bar of Texas, which it oversees. The State Bar of Texas is a mandatory bar, rather than merely a voluntary association of lawyers. In order to practice law in Texas courts, an attorney must be licensed, must stay abreast of legal developments through CLE programs, and must pay dues. The public can obtain basic information on all Texas attorneys, including their bar number, license status, and disciplinary record, from the Bar's website.
caption: Judge Roy Bean, a Justice of the Peace and "The Law West of the Pecos"
exif: {}