Notes

The appellate courts of the Texas Judicial System are: the (1) Supreme Court, the highest state appellate court for civil and
juvenile cases; (2) Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest state appellate court for criminal cases; and (3) 14 courts of appeals,
the intermediate appellate courts for civil and criminal appeals from the trial courts.
Appellate courts do not try cases, have juries, or hear witnesses. Rather, they review the actions and decisions of the lower courts on
questions of law or allegations of procedural error. In carrying out this review, the appellate courts are usually restricted to the
evidence and exhibits presented in the trial court.
The Supreme Court of Texas was first established in 1836 by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, which vested the judicial
power of the Republic in “...one Supreme Court and such inferior courts as the Congress may establish.” This court was reestablished by each successive constitution adopted throughout the course of Texas history and currently consists of one chief
justice and eight justices. The Supreme Court has statewide, final appellate jurisdiction in most civil and juvenile cases