Callahan County Jail Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Callahan County

Criminal Court Process for Callahan County Texas

Callahan County straddles Interstate 20 just east of Abilene, and its county seat is the railroad town of Baird; Clyde and Cross Plains are its other main towns. Class C cases go to the justice of the peace courts in Clyde, Baird and Cross Plains or to a city's municipal court, Class A and B misdemeanors are heard by the constitutional county court, and felonies are tried in the 42nd District Court, a multi-county court whose judge also sits in Abilene. The Callahan County Attorney prosecutes misdemeanors, and the District Attorney for the 42nd Judicial District prosecutes felonies. Adults arrested in the county are booked at the Callahan County Jail, run by the Sheriff's Office in Baird.

  • Callahan County offices (County Judge, county court, District Clerk, Justice of the Peace Precinct 3), 1257 FM 2047, Baird, TX 79504; County Judge (325) 854-5805
  • Callahan County District Clerk (42nd District Court filings), 1257 FM 2047, Baird, TX 79504, (325) 854-5825
  • 42nd District Court, judge's office at 300 Oak Street, Suite 401, Abilene, TX 79602, (325) 674-1314
  • Callahan County Attorney (misdemeanors and juvenile cases), 344 Market Street, Baird, TX 79504, (325) 854-5810
  • 42nd Judicial District Attorney (felonies)
  • Callahan County Sheriff's Office, 432 Market Street, Baird, TX 79504, (325) 854-1444 (24-hour non-emergency)
  • Callahan County Jail, Callahan County Sheriff's Office, 432 Market Street, Baird, TX 79504, (325) 854-1444

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors are punishable by fine only and include most traffic tickets, public intoxication, theft of property worth less than $100 and an assault by contact that causes no injury. They are filed in the Justice of the Peace court for the precinct where the offense occurred or, inside city limits, in the municipal court of Baird, Clyde or Cross Plains. Class A and B misdemeanors, including a first DWI, are tried in the Callahan County Court, the constitutional county court presided over by the County Judge; Callahan has no county court at law. Felonies begin with magistrate warnings from a justice of the peace and, after a Callahan County grand jury indicts, are tried in the 42nd District Court when its judge holds court in Baird.

Where pretrial inmates are held. Deputies, the small city police departments and DPS troopers working I-20 bring arrested adults to the Sheriff's jail in Baird. It is a small facility, and when space runs short the Sheriff may house some inmates in another county's jail under contract. A defendant who cannot post bail stays in custody until release or the end of the case. To confirm where a person is being held, call the Sheriff's Office at (325) 854-1444. The Sheriff's Office warns that it does not call people about warrants from cell phones, so treat such calls as possible scams.

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

The county currently lists justice courts for Precincts 1, 3 and 4, one in each of its three main towns. The justices decide Class C cases, issue warrants and serve as magistrates for people booked at the jail, where they explain the charges and set bond.

Justice of the Peace courts

  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 (Clyde), 208 Oak Street, Clyde, TX 79510, (325) 893-4900
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 (Baird), 1257 FM 2047, Baird, TX 79504, (325) 854-5830
  • Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4 (Cross Plains), 424 South Main Street, Cross Plains, TX 76443, (254) 725-7456

Municipal courts

  • Clyde Municipal Court, City of Clyde, City Hall, 222 Oak Street (P.O. Box 1155), Clyde, TX 79510, (325) 893-4234
  • Baird Municipal Court, City of Baird, handled through Baird City Hall, (325) 854-1212
  • Cross Plains Municipal Court, Town of Cross Plains, handled through the town office, (254) 725-6114

A citation issued in Putnam, Eula, Oplin or other rural areas, or by a state trooper on I-20, is usually filed in the justice court for that precinct. The ticket names the court and the appearance date.

County court

  • Callahan County Court (constitutional county court; Class A and B misdemeanors and appeals from justice and municipal courts), 1257 FM 2047, Baird, TX 79504, (325) 854-5805

Anyone found guilty in a justice or municipal court can appeal to the county court for a new trial, generally by filing an appeal bond within 10 days of the judgment.

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

Interstate 20 runs the length of Callahan County, and highway stops lead to many of its DWI and drug possession arrests. Anyone arrested on a Class A or B charge is booked at the Callahan County Jail in Baird.

Magistrate warnings and bail

Within 48 hours, a justice of the peace must give the warnings in article 15.17, explain the right to remain silent and to have a lawyer, take any request for appointed counsel, and set bail. The magistrate may accept a cash bond, a surety bond posted by a licensed bail bondsman for a nonrefundable fee, or a personal bond. In family-violence cases the magistrate can issue an emergency protective order that keeps the defendant away from the home and the alleged victim.

What happens in county court

The County Attorney reviews the arrest report and files the case in the Callahan County Court. The County Judge sets arraignment and docket dates, and a defendant can choose a trial before six jurors. When jail is possible and the defendant cannot afford a lawyer, the court appoints private counsel under Callahan County's indigent defense plan. Ask at magistration or contact the county court at (325) 854-5805.

What the charges carry

  • Theft: Class C below $100 (fine up to $500); Class B from $100 to $750 (no more than 180 days and $2,000); Class A from $750 to $2,500 (up to a year and $4,000).
  • Assault causing bodily injury: Class A; a family-violence finding can enhance a later charge to a felony.
  • Criminal trespass: Class B, or Class A at a residence or with a deadly weapon.
  • First DWI: Class B, carrying 72 hours to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $3,000; Class A when the alcohol concentration reached 0.15 or more; six days minimum when an open container was present. There is also an administrative license suspension, a required DWI education program, a possible ignition interlock and a state traffic fine upon conviction.

Cases can end with dismissal, pretrial diversion, deferred adjudication, probation, a fine or jail. People who complete deferred adjudication may later qualify for an order of nondisclosure. Expect roughly two to six months.

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

Callahan County felonies are prosecuted by the 42nd Judicial District Attorney and tried in the 42nd District Court, whose judge divides time between Baird and the other counties of the district. Felony files are kept by the District Clerk in Baird.

  1. Booking and bail. After arrest and booking at the Callahan County Jail, the person sees a magistrate within 48 hours. Under the Damon Allen Act, the magistrate must review a public safety report on the defendant's history before setting bail.
  2. Appointed lawyer. The 42nd District Court appoints private attorneys for indigent felony defendants under its indigent defense plan, with support from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission. Request counsel at magistration or call the District Clerk at (325) 854-5825.
  3. Indictment. The District Attorney presents the evidence to a Callahan County grand jury. If it indicts, the case moves to district court; a defendant may also waive indictment.
  4. Time limit for jailed defendants. If the State is not ready for trial within 90 days after a felony defendant's detention, article 17.151 generally requires release on personal bond or reduced bail, except for violent offenses.
  5. Plea or trial. Most cases are settled by plea agreement. A trial requires a unanimous jury of 12, and the defendant may ask the jury to set punishment.

Punishment ranges

  • State jail felony: 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and up to a $10,000 fine (for example, theft of $2,500 to $30,000).
  • Third-degree felony: 2 to 10 years. Second-degree felony: 2 to 20 years, covering burglary of a habitation and most aggravated assaults. First-degree felony: 5 to 99 years or life.
  • Drug cases: graded by penalty group and weight, from a state jail felony to first degree.

Previous felony convictions can raise the range. For "3g" offenses, parole eligibility comes after half the sentence (minimum two years); most other inmates are eligible after about one quarter with good time. Deferred adjudication is available to many first offenders. A Callahan County felony usually takes six to eighteen months.

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

Violent felonies from Callahan County go to the 42nd District Court. A person charged with a violent offense cannot receive a personal bond under the Damon Allen Act, and Under a constitutional amendment Texas voters approved in 2025, judges in Callahan County can deny bail in some violent-crime cases. A defendant who is not released remains in the Callahan County Jail or in a contract jail the Sheriff uses.

  • Capital murder: death or life without parole.
  • Murder: 5 to 99 years or life as a first-degree felony.
  • Sexual assault: second degree, 2 to 20 years; aggravated sexual assault: first degree, with a 25-year minimum in some cases with young child victims; sex-offender registration after conviction.
  • Aggravated robbery: a "3g" first-degree felony, 5 to 99 years or life.

The Texas Rangers commonly assist the Sheriff on homicides, and DPS laboratories in the region handle forensic testing. Capital defendants receive lawyers who meet the state's capital qualification rules, often through a regional capital defender office. Victims are protected by article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution, which gives them the right to notice, to attend proceedings and to be heard. These cases often take one to three years.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Callahan County

Juvenile court in Texas covers children who were 10 through 16 at the time of the offense. Someone who was 17 is prosecuted as an adult and booked at the Callahan County Jail.

Court and intake

The Callahan County Juvenile Board designates the juvenile court, ordinarily the county court or the 42nd District Court sitting as juvenile court. The juvenile probation department serving Callahan County handles intake: officers decide whether a child can be released to a parent, whether the matter can be handled informally or through deferred prosecution, and whether to send it to the prosecutor. The County Attorney generally files juvenile petitions in Callahan County.

Detention

There is no juvenile detention center in Callahan County. A youth who must be held is typically taken under contract to a regional juvenile detention center, such as one in Abilene. A detention hearing must be held within two working days, and the judge may release the child with conditions.

Possible results

  • Deferred prosecution or probation with conditions such as school attendance, counseling and restitution.
  • Placement outside the home or commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).
  • A determinate sentence for the most serious offenses, which can continue in adult prison.
  • Certification to adult court, generally possible at 14 or older for capital and first-degree felonies (and some aggravated drug felonies) and 15 or older for other felonies.

Each child is entitled to a lawyer, and one is appointed if the family cannot pay. Juvenile records are confidential, and sealing is available in many cases.

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

Callahan County is in the Abilene Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Federal cases from Baird, Clyde or Cross Plains are heard at the federal building in downtown Abilene, a short drive west on I-20.

  • U.S. District Clerk, Abilene, 341 Pine Street, Room 2008, Abilene, TX 79601, (325) 677-6311
  • U.S. Attorney's Office, Abilene, 500 Chestnut Street, Suite 601, Abilene, TX 79602, (325) 271-6700
  • Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas (offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Lubbock and Amarillo), or a private Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel lawyer appointed by the court

Why a case might be federal

Drug couriers stopped on Interstate 20, felons found with firearms, child exploitation investigations, and fraud involving banks or federal programs are the most likely Callahan County matters to be charged in federal court. The nearby Dyess Air Force Base and the large federal agencies in Abilene also mean that federal investigators are close at hand.

Initial appearance and release

The defendant first appears before a U.S. magistrate judge, who explains the charges and appoints counsel if the person cannot afford it. A detention hearing, when the government requests one, is usually held within three court days. Under the Bail Reform Act, the judge may release the defendant on conditions supervised by U.S. Pretrial Services or order detention until trial. Commercial bail bonds are not used.

Indictment through sentencing

If the case began with a complaint, a grand jury must indict within 30 days of arrest. The Speedy Trial Act sets a 70-day trial deadline, which is often extended. Most federal defendants plead guilty; a jury trial requires 12 unanimous jurors. Before sentencing, U.S. Probation prepares a presentence report, and the judge considers the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and any mandatory minimum. There is no parole: prisoners serve about 85 percent of the term in the Bureau of Prisons, followed by supervised release. Appeals go to the Fifth Circuit.

Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator for a Callahan County defendant by name or register number to find a federal prisoner. Someone held before trial in a county jail under a U.S. Marshals contract may also turn up on that jail's own inmate roster. Federal charges against juveniles are rare.

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This guide explains the general course of a criminal case in Callahan County and is not legal advice. Offices, court dates and phone numbers change, so confirm each setting with the clerk. People charged with a crime should consult a defense lawyer; a person who cannot afford one can request appointed counsel at magistration, through the District Clerk at (325) 854-5825 for felonies, or through the county court at (325) 854-5805 for misdemeanors.

Criminal Court Process for Callahan County Texas

Callahan 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 Callahan 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, Callahan 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 Callahan 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 Callahan 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, Callahan County or a city or town. The prosecuting attorney for Callahan 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 Callahan 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 Callahan 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 Callahan 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

CLYDE CITY MUNICIPAL COURT
222 OAK ST
CLYDE TX, 79510
325-893-3109

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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.