Henderson County Jail Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Henderson County

Criminal Court Process for Henderson County Texas

Henderson County stretches from Cedar Creek Lake to the Neches River southeast of Dallas, and Athens is its county seat. Class C cases are spread among five justice of the peace precincts and more than a dozen city courts, Class A and B misdemeanors go to Henderson County Court at Law No. 1 or No. 2, and felonies are tried in the 3rd, 173rd and 392nd District Courts (the 3rd also serves Anderson and Houston counties). The Henderson County Attorney prosecutes misdemeanors and the Henderson County District Attorney prosecutes felonies. People arrested anywhere in the county are booked into the Sheriff's jail on North Murchison Street in Athens.

  • Henderson County Courthouse (3rd, 173rd and 392nd District Courts; District Clerk), 100 East Tyler Street, Suite 203, Athens, TX 75751, (903) 675-6115
  • Henderson County Courts at Law No. 1 and No. 2 (misdemeanors), 100 North Prairieville Street, Suite 101, Athens, TX 75751; County Clerk (903) 675-6140
  • Henderson County Attorney (misdemeanors), Athens, (903) 675-6112
  • Henderson County District Attorney (felonies), Athens, (903) 675-6100
  • Henderson County Jail, 206 North Murchison Street, Athens, TX 75751; Sheriff's Office (903) 675-5125

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors, such as traffic tickets, public intoxication, theft of less than $100 or an assault with no injury, are fine-only offenses handled by the justice of the peace for the precinct where they happened, or by the municipal court of the city whose officer wrote the ticket (Athens, Gun Barrel City, Malakoff, Seven Points, Tool, Chandler and others). Class A and B misdemeanors, including a first DWI, belong in either County Court at Law No. 1 or County Court at Law No. 2. Felonies begin with magistrate warnings at the jail; after a Henderson County grand jury returns an indictment, the case is assigned to the 3rd, 173rd or 392nd District Court.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Henderson County Sheriff runs the county jail in downtown Athens, a block from the courthouse. Every adult arrested in the county, whether by deputies, DPS troopers or police from the lake cities, is booked there, and anyone who cannot make bond stays in custody until release or the end of the case. For custody and release information, call the Sheriff's Office at (903) 675-5125.

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

Henderson County's five justice precincts are based in Athens (Precinct 1), Seven Points on Cedar Creek Lake (Precinct 2), Chandler near Lake Palestine (Precinct 3), the LaRue and Poynor area in the south (Precinct 4) and Malakoff (Precinct 5). Each justice of the peace hears fine-only criminal cases, small civil suits and evictions, and also takes turns as magistrate, warning people after arrest and setting bail. Many of the small lake towns run their own part-time municipal courts.

Justice of the peace courts

  • Precinct 1, Henderson County Justice Center, 100 East Tyler Street, Athens, TX 75751, (903) 677-6373
  • Precinct 2, 422 East Cedar Creek Parkway, Suite C (P.O. Box 43672), Seven Points, TX 75143, (903) 432-4334
  • Precinct 3, P.O. Box 835, Chandler, TX 75758, (903) 849-2222
  • Precinct 4, P.O. Box 110, Poynor, TX 75782, (903) 676-4065
  • Precinct 5, P.O. Box 885, Malakoff, TX 75148, (903) 489-0474

Municipal courts

  • Athens, 501 North Pinkerton Street, Athens, TX 75751, (903) 675-8910
  • Berryville, P.O. Box 908, Frankston, TX 75763, (903) 876-3763
  • Brownsboro, P.O. Box 303, Brownsboro, TX 75756, (903) 852-6761
  • Caney City, 15241 Barron Road, Caney City, TX 75148, (903) 489-1844
  • Chandler, 811 Highway 31 East (P.O. Box 425), Chandler, TX 75758, (903) 849-6853
  • Coffee City, 7019 Pleasant Ridge Road, Coffee City, TX 75763, (903) 876-3414
  • Eustace, 107 Edgar Street (P.O. Box 579), Eustace, TX 75124, (903) 425-6614
  • Gun Barrel City, 298 Municipal Drive, Gun Barrel City, TX 75156, (903) 887-4990
  • Log Cabin, 14387 Alamo Road, Log Cabin, TX 75148, (903) 489-4204
  • Malakoff, 109 South Melton Drive, Malakoff, TX 75148, (903) 489-3472
  • Payne Springs, 9692 State Highway 198 South, No. 2, Payne Springs, TX 75156, (903) 451-9110
  • Seven Points, 428 Cedar Creek Parkway, Seven Points, TX 75143, (903) 432-3176
  • Star Harbor, P.O. Box 949, Malakoff, TX 75148, (903) 489-0091
  • Tool, 701 North Tool Drive, Tool, TX 75143, (903) 432-3522
  • Trinidad, 212 Park Street (P.O. Box 345), Trinidad, TX 75163, (903) 778-4545

Mabank's city court sits across the line in Kaufman County, although part of that city lies in Henderson County.

County courts

  • Henderson County Court at Law No. 1 and County Court at Law No. 2, 100 North Prairieville Street, Suite 101 (P.O. Box 632), Athens, TX 75751; criminal case filings through the County Clerk, (903) 675-6140
  • Henderson County Court (constitutional county court; County Judge's office, 125 North Prairieville Street, Athens), (903) 675-6120

Tickets list the court and the date to respond. Options generally include paying, requesting deferred disposition or a driving safety course, or pleading not guilty and asking for a bench or jury trial. A missed date often leads to a failure-to-appear charge and a warrant. Appeals from a justice or city court go to a county court at law, which retries the case.

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

Lake-area DWI arrests, shoplifting in Athens and family disturbances make up a large part of Henderson County's misdemeanor caseload. After booking at the Henderson County Jail, the arrested person goes before a magistrate within 48 hours for warnings and a bond decision. Conditions may include an interlock device, alcohol monitoring or an emergency protective order in a family-violence case.

Moving through a county court at law

  1. Charging decision. The Henderson County Attorney's office reviews the case and files an information in County Court at Law No. 1 or No. 2, or declines it.
  2. Counsel. A defendant who may be jailed and cannot afford a lawyer can request appointed counsel at magistration or at the first setting. Under the county's indigent defense plan, the court assigns a private attorney from its appointment list.
  3. Settings and outcome. After arraignment come pretrial settings and plea discussions. Results range from dismissal and pretrial diversion to deferred adjudication, probation, fines or jail time. Trials use six jurors, and the verdict must be unanimous.

Penalties at a glance

  • A Class B offense allows up to 180 days in county jail with a fine of up to $2,000. Class A raises the limits to one year and $4,000.
  • Theft is a Class B misdemeanor when the value is $100 or more but less than $750, and Class A from $750 up to $2,500.
  • A first DWI is Class B: 72 hours to 180 days (often probated), a fine up to $3,000 and possible DWI education and interlock requirements. With a 0.15 or higher alcohol concentration it is Class A, and an open container carries a six-day minimum. A failed or refused test also triggers a separate license suspension, which can be contested if a hearing is requested within 15 days.
  • Assault causing bodily injury is Class A; a family-violence finding can turn a later assault into a felony. Criminal trespass is usually Class B.

Most Henderson County misdemeanors are resolved within two to six months. Finishing deferred adjudication successfully can open the door to an order of nondisclosure that hides the record from most private background checks.

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

Felony arrests in Henderson County range from methamphetamine possession and burglaries of lake houses to aggravated assaults. Defendants are held at the Henderson County Jail until they make bail, which the magistrate sets after reviewing the required public safety report.

Key stages

  1. Grand jury. The District Attorney presents the case to a twelve-member Henderson County grand jury, and nine votes are required for an indictment.
  2. Court assignment. Felonies are spread among the 3rd, 173rd and 392nd District Courts. The 3rd District Court also has Anderson and Houston County dockets, so its Henderson County settings are scheduled around that travel.
  3. The 90-day release rule. A defendant jailed on a felony who has not been brought to trial because the State is not ready within 90 days usually must be released on a personal bond or a reduced amount, with exceptions for violent offenses.
  4. Plea or trial. Plea bargains and deferred adjudication resolve most cases. If the case is tried, all twelve jurors have to agree on the verdict, and the defense may elect to have the jury fix the sentence.

Ranges

  • State jail felonies, for instance theft of $2,500 to under $30,000 or less than one gram of methamphetamine, carry 180 days to 2 years.
  • Third-degree felonies run from 2 to 10 years. Second-degree felonies, such as burglary of a habitation and most aggravated assaults, run from 2 to 20.
  • First-degree felonies, including possession with intent to deliver four grams or more of methamphetamine, carry 5 to 99 years or life.

A felony fine can reach $10,000, and prior convictions can enhance the range. Non-aggravated prison sentences generally allow parole consideration after about one-quarter of the term with good time; 3g offenses require half. Felony cases in Henderson County typically last six to eighteen months. To request a court-appointed lawyer, ask at magistration or contact the District Clerk at (903) 675-6115.

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

A person accused of a violent felony in Henderson County should expect a long stay at the Henderson County Jail. State law forbids personal bonds on violent charges, and Texas voters approved a 2025 constitutional amendment allowing judges to deny bail in some violent-crime cases after a hearing; when money bail is set, it is often very high.

  • Capital murder carries either life without parole or the death penalty, if the District Attorney seeks it and a jury imposes it.
  • Murder carries five years to life.
  • Sexual assault is punished as a second-degree felony and requires sex-offender registration.
  • Aggravated sexual assault is a first-degree felony with a 25-year minimum for certain young child victims.
  • Aggravated robbery is first degree as well; it and the other aggravated offenses here are 3g crimes that require serving half the sentence before parole.

Major investigations are led by the Sheriff's Office or Athens police, with help from the Texas Rangers and state crime labs. Trial preparation in the district courts commonly takes one to three years. Crime victims can ask to be notified of every proceeding, talk with the prosecutor about a plea offer and make an impact statement after sentencing. Indigent defendants charged with capital murder receive qualified appointed counsel, often from a regional capital defender office.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Henderson County

Texas treats a child who was 10 through 16 at the time of an offense as a juvenile. Once a person turns 17, an arrest in Henderson County leads to adult booking at the Henderson County Jail.

Probation intake and court

Henderson County Juvenile Probation in Athens screens every referral from law enforcement. The intake officer meets with the youth and parents and decides on release, an informal plan or referral to the prosecutor. The petition is filed in the juvenile court designated by the county's juvenile board, which in Henderson County is generally one of the county courts at law or a district court; the probation office can tell families which judge has the case.

Detention

A youth who is not released goes to a juvenile detention facility, typically a regional or contract center in East Texas if no county facility is available. The judge must hold the detention hearing no later than two working days after the youth is taken in. If the family cannot afford a lawyer, the court appoints one before that hearing.

How cases end

  • Supervisory caution or deferred prosecution, usually for first or minor offenses.
  • Probation with conditions like school attendance, counseling, curfew or restitution.
  • A TJJD commitment (Texas Juvenile Justice Department) where the conduct amounts to a felony.
  • Determinate sentencing for serious listed offenses, which can extend into the adult prison system.

The prosecutor can ask the court to transfer a juvenile to adult criminal court, generally for a child at least 14 accused of a capital or first-degree felony or certain aggravated drug felonies, and at least 15 for other felonies. Juvenile records are confidential under Texas law, and many qualify for sealing.

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

Henderson County is one of the counties in the Tyler Division of the Eastern District of Texas. Athens is about 35 miles west of the federal courthouse in Tyler, which is also the district's headquarters.

  • William M. Steger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, clerk's office in Room 106, 211 West Ferguson Street, Tyler 75702, (903) 590-1000
  • U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Texas (headquarters), Suite 700, 110 North College, Tyler 75702, (903) 590-1400
  • Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Texas, or a CJA panel attorney appointed by the court for eligible defendants

Typical federal matters

Henderson County residents end up in federal court mostly on methamphetamine and fentanyl distribution conspiracies, gun possession by people with felony records, fraud and child-exploitation charges. These cases usually begin with the DEA, ATF, FBI or Homeland Security Investigations, frequently working with the Sheriff's Office or Athens police.

What the federal process looks like

A federal magistrate judge handles the initial appearance, informs the defendant of the charges and appoints counsel when required. The federal system has no commercial bail. Under the Bail Reform Act, the judge may release the defendant on conditions enforced by U.S. Pretrial Services or, after a detention hearing usually set within three court days, order the defendant held until trial. An indictment must come within 30 days of arrest on a complaint, and the Speedy Trial Act's 70-day limit can be extended for complex cases or by agreement.

Most federal defendants plead guilty. Those who go to trial face a jury of twelve, and a guilty verdict must be unanimous. A probation officer prepares a presentence report, and the judge considers the advisory Sentencing Guidelines, any mandatory minimums and the facts of the case. Without parole, federal prisoners serve about 85 percent of their sentence in Bureau of Prisons custody, followed by supervised release. Any appeal is heard by the Fifth Circuit, which sits in New Orleans.

Finding a federal prisoner

Families can locate a sentenced federal inmate through the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator by entering a name or register number. Before trial, a defendant may be housed for the Marshals in a county jail under contract, and that jail's roster may show the person as well. Federal court rarely hears cases against anyone under 18.

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This guide to Henderson County criminal courts is general information, not legal advice, and phone numbers and procedures change. For advice on a specific charge, consult a criminal defense attorney. To request a court-appointed lawyer, tell the magistrate after arrest, or call the County Clerk at (903) 675-6140 for misdemeanors or the District Clerk at (903) 675-6115 for felonies.

Criminal Court Process for Henderson County Texas

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

SEVEN POINTS MUNICIPAL CT CLRK
428 E CEDAR CREEK PKWY
TOOL TX, 75143
903-432-3176
PAYNE SPRINGS MUNICIPAL COURT
19601 COUNTY ROAD 2529 RD
MABANK TX, 75156
903-451-9110
CITY OF ATHENS-MUNICIPAL COURT
501 N PINKERTON ST
ATHENS TX, 75751
903-675-8910
HENDERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE
100 E TYLER ST # 300
ATHENS TX, 75751
903-675-6162
ATHENS MUNICIPAL COURT
508 E TYLER ST
ATHENS TX, 75751
903-675-8910
BROWNSBORO MUNICIPAL COURT
11351 WILLOW ST
BROWNSBORO TX, 75756
903-852-6761

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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.