Chapter 9 pt 2(Court orginization)

• de novo trials: Trials in which a higher court completely retries the case, in contrast to an appeal in which a higher court simply reviews the lower as decided by a lower court
• plea bargaining: Negotiations between the prosecution and the defense to obtain a lighter sentence or other benefits in exchange for a guilty plea by the accused
• Municipal courts:

  • Exculsive Jurisdiction to try city ordinances
  • class C misdeameners
• Justice of peace courts:

  • mostly handle criminal cases
  • Have jurisdiction over criminal cases which the fine is less than $500
  • Also solve civil matters in which dispute involves less than $20000
• District courts:

  • Have jurisdiction in felony cases
  • May try civil cases that exceed $200
• Courts of appeal:

  • Appeals in both civil and criminal cases from district and county courts in their area
• Court of Criminal Appeals:

  • The highest appellate court in criminal matters
• Texas Supreme court

  • The highest appellate court for civil cases.