Exam 3 (texas courts)

each county in Texas has at least how many districts

1

in spite of judicial campaigns, voters often know little about judicial candidates in Texas, as a result they vote

For the party label

municipal courts in Texas have jurisdiction over

Violation of city ordinances

Texas officially uses which method to select state judges?

partisan election

courts of appeal have the authority to do what?

review the decisions of lower courts

which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases

Texas court of criminal appeals

before 1978, partisanship was not a factor in Texas judicial elections because

Texas was effectively a one-party state

which standard must be met to prove that the dependent is guilty in criminal cases

beyond a reasonable doubt

Civil law focuses on __________________, while criminal law focuses on __________________.

disputes about relationships, obligations, and responsibilities. violations of the code of rights and wrongs determine by criminal statutes.

why is it difficult for voters to learn about judicial candidates in Texas

voters are called upon to vote for 1000 many different judicial races in a single election

what happens in a bench trial

The defendant gives up his or her right to a trial by jury, instead, the trial is conducted with only the judge

what is a tort law

a branch of civil law dealing with harm done by one party to another where the remedy is economic payments to the injured party

what type of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear

civil appeals

district covers usually have ___ jurisdiction meaning that they hear a brass range of civil and criminal cases

general

justice of the peace courts in Texas handle which kind of disputes

small claims

veterans courts, Dwi courts, and drugs courts are types of

speciality courts

Courts that can review matters relating to the disposition of property of deceased persons are referred to as what?

statutory probate

county judges in Texas preside over

the county commissioners court

In civil cases, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff, who must meet a standard known as __________________.

the preponderance of the evidence

what is the purpose of a grand jury

to determine whether or not there is enough evidence to justify a trial