Anderson County Juvenile Detention Center Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Anderson County

Criminal Court Process for Anderson County Texas

Palestine is the county seat of Anderson County, and the courthouse on North Church Street is where most criminal cases from the county are decided. Fine-only Class C offenses go to one of four justice of the peace precincts or to a city court in Palestine, Elkhart or Frankston. Class A and B misdemeanors are heard by the Anderson County Court at Law and the constitutional county court, and felonies belong to four district courts: the 3rd, 87th, 349th and 369th. The Anderson County Criminal District Attorney's Office prosecutes cases in these courts, and adults arrested in the county are booked into the Sheriff's jail on East Lacy Street.

  • Anderson County Courthouse (3rd, 87th, 349th and 369th District Courts; County Court at Law), 500 N. Church Street, Palestine, TX 75801; District Clerk (903) 723-7412, County Court at Law (903) 723-7469
  • Anderson County Court (constitutional county court), 703 N. Mallard Street, Suite 101, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 723-7406
  • Anderson County Criminal District Attorney, 500 N. Church Street, Room 38, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 723-7400
  • Anderson County Clerk (misdemeanor records), 500 N. Church Street, Room 10, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 723-7432
  • Anderson County Jail (Anderson County Sheriff's Office), 1200 E. Lacy Street, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 729-6068

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors, which carry only a fine (traffic tickets, public intoxication, theft under $100, an assault that causes no injury), are filed in the Justice of the Peace court for the precinct where the offense took place, or in the Palestine, Elkhart or Frankston Municipal Court when a city officer writes the citation inside city limits. Class A and B misdemeanors, including a first DWI, are heard in the Anderson County Court at Law or the constitutional county court. For a felony, a magistrate first reads the warnings and sets bail; once a grand jury returns an indictment, the case is assigned to the 3rd, 87th, 349th or 369th District Court. Several of those districts also serve neighboring counties, so a judge's calendar in Palestine can be shared with other courthouses.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail at 1200 E. Lacy Street in Palestine, and city police, troopers and deputies all bring adults arrested in the county there. State jail reports list room for about 300 inmates. Questions about whether someone is in custody, how much the release amount is, or visiting rules can go to the Sheriff's Office at (903) 729-6068 or the jail captain's line at (903) 731-8209. Several Texas prison units are located near Tennessee Colony in this county, but those hold people already sentenced by the state, not local pretrial detainees.

Local courts in Anderson County (justice of the peace, municipal and county courts)

Three of the four justice courts work out of Palestine, while Precinct 1 covers the northwest part of the county from Elkhart. Justices of the peace do more than hear tickets: they act as magistrates for people booked into the jail, sign arrest warrants and set bond amounts. The city courts handle Class C offenses and ordinance violations written inside their own limits.

Justice of the Peace courts

  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, P.O. Box 348, Elkhart, TX 75839, (903) 764-5661
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, 703 N. Mallard Street, Suite 107, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 723-7486
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, 500 N. Church Street, Suite 8, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 723-7418
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, 703 N. Mallard Street, Suite 106, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 723-7419

Municipal courts

  • Palestine Municipal Court, 504 N. Queen Street, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 731-8400
  • Elkhart Municipal Court, P.O. Box 944, Elkhart, TX 75839, (903) 764-5661
  • Frankston Municipal Court, 240 W. Main Street, Frankston, TX 75763, (903) 876-2400

County-level courts

  • Anderson County Court at Law, 500 N. Church Street, Suite 11, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 723-7469
  • Anderson County Court (constitutional county court), 703 N. Mallard Street, Suite 101, Palestine, TX 75801, (903) 723-7406

The Palestine court has announced that, starting August 1, 2026, defendants must come in person rather than by video unless the judge directs otherwise. A person found guilty in a justice or municipal court that does not keep a court record can appeal for a completely new trial in the county court at law, but the appeal bond and notice must be filed quickly, usually within 10 days of the judgment.

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Misdemeanor (for example, theft, a first DWI, assault causing bodily injury, criminal trespass)

A Class A or B arrest in Anderson County usually means a trip to the Anderson County Jail on East Lacy Street for fingerprints, photographs and a warrant check. Texas law requires that the person see a magistrate within 48 hours; in practice a justice of the peace usually handles this the morning after booking.

Magistration and release

At the hearing the magistrate explains the charge, reads the warnings required by article 15.17 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, asks whether the person wants a court-appointed lawyer and sets bail. Release can come through a cash deposit, a surety bond written by a licensed bondsman for a nonrefundable fee, or a personal bond that requires only a signed promise to appear. Family-violence cases commonly carry an emergency protective order and no-contact terms. If the person stays in jail on a misdemeanor and the State is not ready for trial within the time limit in article 17.151 (30 days for most Class A charges, 15 for Class B), the court generally must reduce the amount or grant a personal release.

Court appearances

The Criminal District Attorney's Office files an information in the county court at law or the constitutional county court. Someone who cannot afford a lawyer can ask the magistrate for one or contact the County Court at Law at (903) 723-7469; Anderson County appoints private attorneys under its indigent defense plan, which the Texas Indigent Defense Commission reviews. Most cases are settled at docket settings, and a jury trial in county court uses six jurors who must agree unanimously.

Penalties

  • Theft: $100 to $750 is Class B (up to 180 days, $2,000 fine); $750 to $2,500 is Class A (up to a year, $4,000 fine).
  • Assault causing bodily injury: Class A; a family-violence finding can make a later case a felony.
  • Criminal trespass: usually Class B; Class A at a home or when the person carries a deadly weapon.
  • First DWI: Class B with 72 hours to 180 days in jail (often probated), a fine of up to $3,000 and a license suspension. A breath or blood result of 0.15 or more makes it Class A, and an open container brings a minimum of six days. The license suspension that follows a refused or failed test is a separate administrative case.

Outcomes include dismissal, pretrial diversion, deferred adjudication (probation that ends without a conviction if it is completed), regular probation, a fine or county jail time. Certain people who complete deferred adjudication can later petition for an order of nondisclosure that hides the record from most public searches. A typical Anderson County misdemeanor runs two to six months.

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Felony (for example, burglary, felony theft, drug possession or delivery, aggravated assault)

Felony cases in Anderson County are divided among four district judges who sit in the Church Street courthouse. The path from arrest to resolution looks like this:

  1. Booking and magistrate. After booking at the Anderson County Jail, a magistrate gives the warnings, takes any request for appointed counsel and sets bail. Under the 2021 Damon Allen Act the magistrate first reviews a public safety report showing the person's criminal history, and someone charged with a violent offense cannot be released on personal bond.
  2. Appointed lawyer. Anderson County does not have a public defender office for adult felonies; the district judges appoint private attorneys from a list kept under the county plan. Questions can go to the court coordinators at (903) 723-7410 (3rd and 349th) or (903) 723-7415 (87th and 369th).
  3. Grand jury. Prosecutors present the case to an Anderson County grand jury, which can return a true bill (indictment) or a no-bill. A defendant may also waive indictment and proceed on an information. If a jailed defendant's case is not ready within 90 days, article 17.151 usually requires release on a personal bond or a lower amount, with exceptions for certain violent charges.
  4. Arraignment and plea talks. After indictment the case is set on a district court docket. Most felony cases end with a negotiated plea.
  5. Trial. Twelve jurors must agree on the verdict. A defendant can choose to have the jury, rather than the judge, decide the sentence.

Punishment ranges

  • State jail felony (for example, theft of $2,500 to $30,000 or possession of less than a gram of a Penalty Group 1 drug): a state jail term of 180 days to 2 years, plus a fine as high as $10,000.
  • Third degree: 2 to 10 years. Second degree (burglary of a habitation; most aggravated assaults): 2 to 20 years. First degree: 5 to 99 years or life.
  • Drug charges depend on the penalty group and the weight, ranging from a state jail felony to first degree. Prior felony convictions can raise the range under the habitual offender rules.

Many first-time defendants are offered deferred adjudication or regular community supervision. People sent to prison are generally eligible for parole after serving about a quarter of the sentence with good time, but "3g" offenses such as aggravated assault with a deadly weapon require half the sentence (at least two years) first. Felonies in the county usually take six to eighteen months to finish.

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Violent felony (for example, murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery)

For murder, sexual assault and aggravated robbery, the magistrate usually sets a high bail amount, and a personal release is off the table under the Damon Allen Act. Texas voters approved a 2025 constitutional amendment that lets judges deny bail in some violent-crime cases, so a defendant may be held at the Anderson County Jail with no release amount at all after a hearing in district court.

  • Capital murder: death or life without parole. Only the Criminal District Attorney can decide to seek a death sentence, and the trial must follow special procedures; no state has executed more people than Texas.
  • Murder: first degree, 5 to 99 years or life, with a possible second-degree range if the jury finds sudden passion.
  • Sexual assault: second degree. Aggravated sexual assault: first degree, with a 25-year minimum when the victim is a young child. Sex-offender registration follows conviction.
  • Aggravated robbery: first degree, and a "3g" offense requiring half the sentence before parole.

Defendants who cannot pay for counsel receive appointed lawyers who meet the state's qualification standards; in a capital case the court appoints two qualified attorneys and may draw on a regional capital defender office. Victims have rights under article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution, including notice of hearings and the chance to give an impact statement, and the Criminal District Attorney's victim assistance staff can be reached at (903) 723-7400. Expect one to three years from arrest to trial in a serious violent case.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Anderson County

Texas treats 17-year-olds as adults. Juvenile court jurisdiction covers a young person who was 10 through 16 at the time of the alleged conduct, and in Anderson County those cases are heard by the court the county juvenile board has designated as the juvenile court, generally a district court or the County Court at Law. The District Clerk's office, (903) 723-7412, can confirm which court has a given case.

Intake and detention

Officers take the child to the Anderson County Juvenile Probation Department, which handles intake and decides with the prosecutor whether to release the youth to a parent, offer an informal resolution or file a petition. The Criminal District Attorney's Office files juvenile petitions. A youth who is held must have a detention hearing within two working days. Anderson County does not appear to operate its own secure juvenile facility, so detained youths are typically housed in a contracted regional detention center in another East Texas county.

Outcomes

  • Deferred prosecution, a supervised period that ends the case without an adjudication if it goes well.
  • Probation at home or in a residential placement.
  • Commitment to a state facility run by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) for the most serious or repeated conduct.
  • Determinate sentencing for serious offenses, which can begin in a TJJD facility and later transfer to adult prison.

Certification as an adult. The prosecutor may ask the juvenile court to waive jurisdiction and send the case to district court. As a rule this is possible at 14 or older for capital felonies, first-degree felonies and some aggravated drug felonies, and at 15 or older for other felonies, after a hearing and a diagnostic study. Children have a right to a lawyer, and the juvenile court appoints one when the family cannot pay. Juvenile records are generally confidential, and many can be sealed later.

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Federal cases (U.S. District Court) from Anderson County

Anderson County is part of the Tyler Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Federal charges from Palestine and the rest of the county are heard about 50 miles northeast, in Tyler.

  • William M. Steger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 211 W. Ferguson Street, Room 106, Tyler, TX 75702, (903) 590-1000
  • U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas (Tyler), 110 N. College Avenue, Suite 700, Tyler, TX 75702, (903) 590-1400

How a case becomes federal. Federal prosecutors take a case when it breaks a federal law and an agency such as the FBI, DEA, ATF or Homeland Security Investigations brings it to them. In Anderson County that most often means methamphetamine or fentanyl distribution, firearm possession by someone with a felony record, child exploitation, or fraud against a federal program. Crimes committed by inmates inside the state prison units near Tennessee Colony are usually prosecuted in state court.

First appearance and release. A U.S. magistrate judge in Tyler advises the defendant of the charges and appoints the Federal Public Defender or a private Criminal Justice Act panel lawyer for someone who cannot afford counsel. When the government seeks detention, a hearing is usually held within three court days. Federal court has no commercial bail bond industry; instead, the Bail Reform Act lets the judge release the person on conditions supervised by U.S. Pretrial Services or order detention.

From charge to sentence. If the case started with a criminal complaint, a grand jury must indict within 30 days of arrest, and the Speedy Trial Act sets a 70-day trial clock that judges frequently extend. Most defendants plead guilty; trials use 12 jurors who must be unanimous. A probation officer prepares a presentence report, and the judge considers the advisory Sentencing Guidelines along with any mandatory minimum. Federal prisoners are not paroled and serve about 85 percent of the sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, then a term of supervised release. Any appeal is heard by the New Orleans-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Locating a federal prisoner. Families looking for someone after sentencing can enter a name or an eight-digit register number in the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. A defendant awaiting trial in a county jail that holds federal detainees under a U.S. Marshals contract may also appear on that jail's roster. Federal prosecution of anyone under 18 is uncommon, and juvenile cases from the county almost always stay in state juvenile court.

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This page summarizes how criminal cases usually move through the Anderson County courts and is not legal advice. Court settings, release rules and office locations can change, so confirm every date with the clerk. Anyone charged with a jailable offense who cannot afford a lawyer can ask the magistrate for appointed counsel or call the County Court at Law at (903) 723-7469 or the district court coordinators at (903) 723-7410.

Criminal Court Process for Anderson County Texas

Anderson County Texas Criminal Court System – Definitions

It might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site, when explaining the Texas Court System and how it works. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.

If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Anderson County, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.

Arrest is when Texas, Anderson County or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed. 

In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Anderson County court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.

Booking is when the Anderson County sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation and verification of identity. Bail for lower-level crimes may be set right after booking so the arrested has the opportunity to “bail or bond out” before being detained.

The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that press the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the state of Texas, Anderson County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for Anderson County or the district works in the prosecutor’s office.  A U.S. Attorney prosecutes federal cases.  

Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case.  For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case.  If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime.  Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.

Arraignment in Texas comes after charges are formally filed, usually by indictment for a felony. The trial court reads the charge and the defendant enters a plea of guilty, not guilty or no contest. It is a separate step from the first appearance before a magistrate, where rights are explained, bail is set and a request for an appointed lawyer can be made.

An arraignment is not a trial, and the defendant is entitled to a trial within a reasonable amount of time after the arraignment.

Bail is money paid that is held by the Anderson County or municipal court to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. In Texas, bail and its conditions are set by a magistrate soon after arrest, at the hearing often called magistration. When the case is over, cash posted as bail is refunded on the court’s order to the person named on the receipt, less any fee the law allows.

If a person does not pay bail, they stay in custody until their trial.  Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance without having to pay bail.

A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid. In Texas it usually happens at the first appearance before a magistrate, soon after arrest, well before any arraignment. A defendant may have a lawyer at a bond proceeding, and a defendant facing a request to deny bail under Proposition 3 has the right to one at that hearing. Jailers, police and prosecutors can’t set bail. In Texas a magistrate does, usually within 48 hours of arrest, and that magistrate may be a justice of the peace, a municipal judge, an appointed magistrate or a county or district judge. Texas doesn’t use one bail schedule for the whole state; each county’s judges adopt their own. Before setting bail, the magistrate reviews a Public Safety Report on the person’s criminal history (the Damon Allen Act, Senate Bill 6, 2021). Since September 2025, Senate Bill 9 sends some felony bail decisions to a judge rather than an appointed magistrate, and since November 2025 Proposition 3 lets a judge deny bail outright for certain violent and sexual felonies after a hearing.

It is always important to have family involvement after being arrested.  Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf (not all bond companies will accept collect calls), but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court, not only for the defendant’s own good, but because they may have signed bond paperwork and responsible to pay if the defendant does not show in court. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.  

(There have been phone scams to where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information.  A bondsman will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)

A judicial public bond or personal recognizance bond is a bond where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the money if the defendant does not show up to court. If the defendant does not show, the full amount will be due and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible to pay the court.  Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance.  

Cash bonds in Texas. Instead of using a bondsman, the defendant or someone on their behalf deposits the full bail amount with the court or the sheriff. The money is held until the case ends, then refunded on the court’s order to the person named on the receipt, less the administrative fee the law allows (Art. 17.02).

Surety Bond is when defendant pays a percentage of the bond amount (usually 10–15%) to a professional bondsman or bail bond company licensed under Texas law, or by the county’s bail bond board in counties that have one. The bondsman then signs the bond on behalf of the defendant. The defendant does not receive any of the money back. If the bondsman feels the defendant is a flight risk, they can refuse to give a bond or charge a higher fee. For example, a bondsman may determine a defendant is a flight risk if they are from a state other than Texas.

A Property Bond is a bond in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate.  Usually, the property must be in Anderson County, and it must be worth at least the amount of the bond.

An Unsecured Bond is when the defendant is released without paying bail upfront, but they must pay the full amount if they do not appear in court.

A Secured Bond is when the defendant pays a portion of the bail up front. If they show to court, they would get the money back and if they don’t show up to court, would have to pay the entire bail amount.

A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest.

If there is a chance that the case might go to trial and the defendant cannot afford an attorney, the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires that the court provide an attorney. This is called indigent representation and a public defender or assigned attorney would represent the defendant in all proceedings. Indigent representation is only available misdemeanor and felony cases that could result in jail time, juvenile cases and certain appeal cases. Class C misdemeanors do not qualify for indigent representation.  

Texas requires that the county pays for appointed counsel and expenses and each county may address indigent defense differently but must comply with the state commission’s guidelines.  If an accused cannot afford a lawyer, the court appoints one. A judge may later order the defendant to repay some or all of that cost if they are able to.  

For less serious cases or civil cases, pro bono volunteers give legal help free or at low cost. Many hold clinics on representing yourself or clearing (expunging) a record. Pro Bono Texas is a good place to start looking for one.

Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se.

In Texas, a district court is the main state trial court for felonies. The name can also mean a U.S. federal district court, which hears federal cases; Texas has four federal judicial districts with offices around the state. It is important that you check the address of the court you are to appear in rather than to ask someone because that person might give you directions to the wrong “district” court. Being late to court can land you in custody as well.

Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered.  This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.

Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings.  A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment.  The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty.  There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of more serious criminal related to the crime.  

Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether if the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial.  If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial.  If the defendant is found non-guilty, they are released.  If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.

Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be jail or prison time, fines, community service, probation, or a combination.

Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again at an appellate court.  If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.

Texas Felony vs Misdemeanor

In Texas, a misdemeanor is divided into Class A, Class B and Class C.

  • Class A is the most serious misdemeanor with penalties of up to 1 year in county jail and a fine of up to $4000.  Examples of a Class A misdemeanor in Texas include property theft valued between $750 and $2500, certain drug possession offenses and assault with bodily harm. 
  • Class B Misdemeanors can result in penalties of up to 180 days in county jail and a fine of up to $2000. Examples of a Class B misdemeanor include first offense DWI, possession of marijuana and criminal trespassing.
  • Class C misdemeanor is the least serious and results in a fine of up to $500 without jail time. Examples of Class C misdemeanor include disorderly conduct, simple assault without bodily injury and minor possession of alcohol.

A felony crime in Texas is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor and can be punished with more significant fines and jail time of more than one year.  Examples of felony crimes are murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping and identity theft.

In Texas, the elected District Clerk keeps the records for felony cases and the elected County Clerk (or County Court at Law clerk) keeps misdemeanor records; both accept filings, bonds, fees and fines and keep the court’s files.

A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement.  There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime. 

A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date.  It does not involve an arrest.  A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.

A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.

Fines are usually paid to the District Clerk or County Clerk, and payment methods can be found on the Anderson County District Clerk or County Clerk website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, have to pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest.  It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket. 

Texas Criminal Court System - How it Works

Justice courts are located within precincts are the lower-level criminal courts that handle Class C misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct, public intoxication and minor possession of alcohol and traffic violations. The judges are magistrates. 

Municipal courts handle violations of municipal ordinances (city laws), traffic violations, parking violations and criminal misdemeanor offenses that occur within the city or towns police jurisdiction. They overlap with justice courts in handling Class C misdemeanors. These courts are for criminal misdemeanors and are only punishable by fine and there is no confinement.

When there is an appeal request from a judgement made in justice or municipal court, the case is heard in a county or district court as if the original trial in the lower court had not occurred.  This is called trial de novo.

Texas County Courts are the original and trial courts for the more serious Class A and B misdemeanor cases. Each Texas county has one constitutional county court, and many counties have added statutory County Courts at Law to share its caseload; in larger counties those courts hear most Class A and B misdemeanors.  County courts are not courts for felony cases.

District courts in Texas are trial courts that handle criminal felony cases from beginning to end.  

Every Texas county designates at least one court to sit as its juvenile court (Family Code 51.04). A child in juvenile court is someone who was 10 through 16 at the time of the alleged conduct; at 17, Texas treats a person as an adult in criminal cases. The juvenile cases are handled by judges assigned to only serve “juvenile court”.

Courts of Appeal handle appeals from the district and county courts.

Specialty courts or problem-solving courts are being adopted in many states as a way to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. Texas offers a variety of specialty courts throughout the state including drug, veteran’s, re-entry and DWI courts.

Texas has two high courts. The Texas Supreme Court is the final word on civil and juvenile cases. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin is the highest court for criminal cases and automatically reviews every death sentence. Most criminal appeals reach it after one of the state’s intermediate courts of appeals has ruled.

FEDERAL COURT

Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws.  Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.  

Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime. 

There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the Texas state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).  

Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.

There are four U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in Texas.

Courts

ANDERSON COUNTY 349TH DIST JDG
500 N CHURCH ST # 30
PALESTINE TX, 75801
903-723-7415

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Anderson County

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Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.