Mills County Jail Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Mills County

Criminal Court Process for Mills County Texas

Goldthwaite, a small town on U.S. 183 roughly 100 miles northwest of Austin, is the county seat of Mills County, and every one of the county's criminal courts meets in its courthouse on Fourth Street. Class C tickets belong to the county's lone justice of the peace; the County Judge, sitting as the constitutional Mills County Court, takes Class A and B misdemeanors; and the 35th District Court, a two-county district with Brown County, takes felonies. The 35th District Attorney, based in Brownwood, prosecutes felonies in both counties, while misdemeanors are prosecuted locally. The Sheriff keeps a small jail in Goldthwaite and sends some inmates to other counties when space or classification requires it.

  • Mills County Courthouse (35th District Court, County Court; District and County Clerk), 1011 Fourth St. (P.O. Box 646), Goldthwaite, TX 76844, (325) 648-2711
  • Justice of the Peace, 1011 Fourth St. (P.O. Box 65), Goldthwaite, TX 76844, (325) 648-2278
  • Mills County Jail and Sheriff's Office, 2111 Priddy Rd. (P.O. Box 1497), Goldthwaite, TX 76844, (325) 648-2245
  • 35th District Attorney (felonies in Brown and Mills counties), Brownwood, (325) 646-0444

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors, offenses punished only by a fine, such as most traffic tickets, public intoxication, theft of less than $100 and an assault that involves contact but no injury, are filed with the Justice of the Peace in Goldthwaite. No separate municipal court for Mills County appears in state court listings, so the justice court handles nearly all local tickets. Without a county court at law in Goldthwaite, every Class A or B misdemeanor, first-offense DWI included, is heard by the County Judge in the Mills County Court. A felony begins with a magistrate's warnings and goes to the 35th District Court after a Mills County grand jury indicts.

Where pretrial inmates are held. The Mills County Sheriff's Office operates a small jail in Goldthwaite, listed by state jail standards in early 2022 at 39 beds with about a dozen inmates and several others housed in other counties under contract. An arrested adult is normally booked locally but may be moved to a contract jail. Anyone who cannot post the bond remains in custody until the case ends or the bond is lowered. Call the Sheriff's Office at (325) 648-2245 to find out where a person is held.

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

With fewer than 5,000 residents, Mills County keeps its court system compact. One justice of the peace serves the whole county from the courthouse, hearing fine-only offenses, small claims, evictions and truancy cases. The same judge is often the magistrate who sees people after arrest, explains their rights and sets bail.

Justice of the Peace court

  • Mills County Justice of the Peace, 1011 Fourth St. (P.O. Box 65), Goldthwaite, TX 76844, (325) 648-2278

Municipal courts

The state directories reviewed for this guide list no municipal court in Mills County. A ticket from a Goldthwaite city officer that names a city court should be answered as the citation directs; call Goldthwaite City Hall or the justice court above for help.

County and district courts

  • Mills County Court (constitutional county court; Class A and B misdemeanors and appeals from the justice court), 1011 Fourth St., Goldthwaite, TX 76844, (325) 648-2711
  • 35th District Court (felonies; Brown and Mills counties), sitting at 1011 Fourth St., Goldthwaite, TX 76844, (325) 648-2711

The District Clerk and County Clerk duties are handled from the courthouse at the number above. A justice court judgment can be appealed to the Mills County Court for a new trial if an appeal bond is filed shortly after the judgment.

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

Hunting season, ranch traffic and U.S. 183 and U.S. 84 shape the Mills County misdemeanor docket, which leans toward DWI, drug possession, hunting-lease trespass and family violence cases rather than the high-volume theft seen in cities.

After the arrest

The person is booked at the Mills County Jail and brought before a magistrate within 48 hours, who sets bail and explains the right to an attorney. Cash, a surety bond from a licensed bondsman, or a personal bond can secure release. If the person is moved to a contract jail, release paperwork still runs through the Mills County Sheriff's Office.

Court process

The local prosecutor files an information in the Mills County Court. The County Judge holds criminal settings on scheduled days, and most cases are resolved by agreement after the defense reviews the evidence. Defendants can insist on a jury of six, who must reach a unanimous verdict, or have the judge decide; the jury can also assess punishment if the defendant chooses. Results range from dismissal and pretrial diversion through deferred adjudication and probation to fines and jail time.

Penalties

  • Theft: Mills County charges it as a fine-only Class C below $100, as a Class B (up to 180 days and $2,000) from $100 to just under $750, and as a Class A (up to one year and $4,000) from $750 to just under $2,500.
  • First DWI: a Class B offense that the County Judge can punish with three to 180 days in jail and a fine reaching $3,000, although probation is the common outcome for a first arrest on U.S. 183 or U.S. 84. If the breath or blood result is 0.15 or higher, the charge is filed as Class A instead, and an open container in the cab sets a six-day jail minimum. Expect a license suspension, possibly an administrative license suspension in a separate case, a DWI education course, an interlock requirement and a state fine on conviction.
  • Assault causing bodily injury: Class A; a family violence finding restricts firearm possession and can elevate a future assault to a felony.
  • Criminal trespass: normally Class B; Class A if the property is a home or the person carried a deadly weapon.

In Goldthwaite, a misdemeanor case is usually wrapped up within two to six months of the arrest. People who cannot afford a lawyer should ask the magistrate or the County Court, through the clerk at (325) 648-2711, for appointed counsel.

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

The 35th Judicial District joins Mills County with its larger neighbor, Brown County. The district judge sits mostly in Brownwood and comes to Goldthwaite for Mills County dockets, and the District Attorney's staff in Brownwood prosecutes felonies in both counties.

  1. Arrest and bond. When booking at the Mills County Jail is done, the Goldthwaite magistrate checks the public safety report that the Damon Allen Act requires and then fixes bond and any conditions. This is the time to ask for a court-appointed lawyer.
  2. Grand jury. The District Attorney presents the case to a Mills County grand jury, which meets on a set schedule. An indictment sends the case forward; a no bill ends it.
  3. District court. The 35th District Court arraigns the defendant in Goldthwaite and sets pretrial hearings.
  4. Plea or trial. Most felonies end with a plea bargain. A trial requires twelve jurors who agree unanimously, and the defendant can choose jury sentencing.

Ranges of punishment

  • State jail felony: between six months and two years in a state jail, with a fine of no more than $10,000.
  • Third degree: 2 to 10 years in prison.
  • Second degree: two to twenty years, which in Mills County is the usual grade for a house burglary or an aggravated assault.
  • First degree: a Mills County jury may assess anything from five years to 99 years, or life.

Theft becomes a felony at $2,500, and drug cases are graded by penalty group and weight. Deferred adjudication is often available for first-time offenders. Earlier convictions can raise the range, and parole eligibility generally comes at one-quarter of the sentence, or half for "3g" offenses. A felony case in Mills County usually takes six to eighteen months. Indigent defendants receive private lawyers appointed by the district judge under the county's indigent defense plan; requests can be made through the District Clerk at (325) 648-2711.

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

Mills County sees few violent felonies, but those it does see are handled with the full weight of the 35th District Attorney's office, often assisted by the Texas Rangers. Personal bonds are off the table for violent offenses, and since voters approved a 2025 constitutional amendment, a judge may deny bail entirely in some of these cases after a hearing. A defendant held before trial stays at the Mills County Jail or a contract jail.

  • Capital murder: death or life without parole.
  • Murder: a first-degree felony that carries five to 99 years or a life term.
  • Sexual assault: second degree, with sex offender registration; aggravated sexual assault: a first-degree charge, and when the victim is a young child some forms of it require a sentence of at least 25 years.
  • Aggravated robbery: first degree; a "3g" offense with parole eligibility only after half the sentence.

Because of crime-lab work, expert testimony and the district judge's two-county calendar, these cases commonly take one to three years. A trial may be moved to another county if pretrial publicity makes a fair jury hard to find in a small community. Victims can work with the District Attorney's victim assistance coordinator to exercise their rights under article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution. Appointed counsel is provided for those who cannot pay.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Mills County

The juvenile system handles young people who were 10 to 16 at the time of the offense. A 17-year-old from Mills County is prosecuted in adult court.

Intake and court

A juvenile probation officer serving Mills County performs intake on every referral. Small counties like Mills often share juvenile probation services with a neighboring county such as Brown. From there the officer can let the child go home, propose a deferred prosecution agreement, or pass the case to the prosecutor to consider a formal petition. The case is then heard by the court designated by the county's juvenile board, typically the County Court or the 35th District Court; the clerk at (325) 648-2711 can say which.

Detention

Mills County has no juvenile detention center. When a Goldthwaite youth must be kept in custody, the usual practice is to transport the child to a certified regional facility under contract, perhaps in Brownwood or another nearby city, well apart from adult inmates. A judge reviews that detention within two working days, and a family that cannot afford counsel gets a lawyer for the child at county expense.

Possible results

  • Deferred prosecution, up to six months of supervision with no adjudication if completed.
  • Probation, including counseling, restitution, community service or residential treatment.
  • Commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), available only for conduct that would be a felony.
  • Determinate sentencing in cases of serious violence, with possible later transfer to adult prison.

In a very serious Mills County case the prosecutor can petition to certify the youth as an adult. As a rule of thumb, a 14-year-old can be certified only for a capital, first-degree or aggravated drug felony, while from age 15 any felony qualifies. Mills County juvenile files stay out of public view, and in many cases the youth can later have them sealed.

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

Federal prosecutions from Goldthwaite and the rest of Mills County are filed in the Northern District of Texas and heard in its San Angelo Division, roughly 110 miles to the west.

  • U.S. District Court, San Angelo, 33 E. Twohig Ave., Room 202, San Angelo, TX 76903, (325) 655-4506
  • U.S. Attorney's Office: the San Angelo office is unstaffed, and its cases are handled from Lubbock, 1205 Texas Ave., Suite 700, Lubbock, TX 79401, (806) 472-7351
  • Counsel for those who cannot pay: the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas or a court-appointed Criminal Justice Act attorney

Federal cases from Mills County

Federal charges arising here are infrequent and usually involve drug trafficking, illegal gun possession, child exploitation online, or fraud involving federal agricultural or disaster programs. A local investigation can be turned over to federal agents when the facts fit a federal statute.

Federal procedure in brief

Someone from Mills County charged federally first meets a U.S. magistrate judge in San Angelo, where the surety bail bonds used in Goldthwaite are not accepted. When prosecutors want the defendant held, the detention hearing generally comes within three court days, and the magistrate uses the Bail Reform Act to choose between conditional release under Pretrial Services supervision and custody. If the case was opened by a complaint, the grand jury has 30 days to indict; the Speedy Trial Act then contemplates trial within 70 days, a target that is regularly moved. A conviction at trial takes a unanimous vote of twelve, yet most of these cases are settled by plea. The San Angelo judge sentences with the help of a presentence report, the advisory Guidelines and any mandatory minimum. Federal law allows no parole, so a Goldthwaite defendant serves roughly 85 percent of the sentence in Bureau of Prisons custody and then moves to supervised release. Appeals are taken to the Fifth Circuit.

Finding a federal inmate

To learn where a sentenced Mills County defendant is serving time, try the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator with a name or register number. Before trial, the U.S. Marshals frequently lodge defendants in a county jail under contract, and the person may be listed on that county's jail roster. Federal juvenile prosecutions are rare, and a Mills County youth is almost always handled under state law.

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This description of the Mills County criminal courts is general information, not legal advice, and housing arrangements and phone numbers can change. If you need a lawyer appointed, tell the magistrate after the arrest or phone the clerk's office in the Goldthwaite courthouse at (325) 648-2711, and direct questions about custody to the Sheriff's Office at (325) 648-2245.

Criminal Court Process for Mills County Texas

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

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