Opinion ID: 1579863
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction: trial court and administrative agency

Text: Our trial courts are courts of general jurisdiction. Dubai Petroleum Co. v. Kazi, 12 S.W.3d 71, 75 (Tex.2000). The Texas Constitution provides that a trial court's jurisdiction consists of exclusive, appellate, and original jurisdiction of all actions, proceedings, and remedies, except in cases where exclusive, appellate, or original jurisdiction may be conferred by this Constitution or other law on some other court, tribunal, or administrative body. Tex. Const. art. V, § 8. By statute, trial courts have the jurisdiction provided by Article V, Section 8, of the Texas Constitution, and may hear and determine any cause that is cognizable by courts of law or equity and may grant any relief that could be granted by either courts of law or equity. Tex. Gov't Code §§ 24.007-.008. Courts of general jurisdiction presumably have subject matter jurisdiction unless a contrary showing is made. Dubai Petroleum, 12 S.W.3d at 75. On the other hand, there is no presumption that administrative agencies are authorized to resolve disputes. Rather, they may exercise only those powers the law, in clear and express statutory language, confers upon them. Key Western Life Ins. Co. v. State Bd. of Ins., 163 Tex. 11, 350 S.W.2d 839, 848 (1961); Railroad Comm'n v. Rowan Oil Co., 152 Tex. 439, 259 S.W.2d 173, 176 (1953). Courts will not imply additional authority to agencies, nor may agencies create for themselves any excess powers. See Key Western Life Ins., 350 S.W.2d at 848; Rowan Oil, 259 S.W.2d at 176.