Tyler County Jail Criminal Court Process

Search for an Inmate or Active Arrest Warrant in Tyler County

Criminal Court Process for Tyler County Texas

Woodville, home of the Dogwood Festival, is the county seat of Tyler County, a timber county of about 20,000 people in Deep East Texas, not to be confused with the city of Tyler some 120 miles to the north. Class C tickets go to four justice of the peace courts or the Woodville Municipal Court, Class A and B misdemeanors to the constitutional County Court, and felonies to the 1A District Court (shared with Jasper and Newton counties) or the 88th District Court (shared with Hardin County). A single Tyler County Criminal District Attorney prosecutes both misdemeanors and felonies. The Sheriff operates a jail of roughly 40 beds in Woodville.

Which court hears your case. Class C misdemeanors, punishable by a fine alone, cover things like a speeding ticket on U.S. 69 or U.S. 190, public intoxication, shoplifting under $100 and an assault by contact with no injury. They are filed with the Justice of the Peace for the precinct where the offense took place, or in the Woodville Municipal Court if a Woodville police officer wrote the ticket inside the city. Class A and B misdemeanors, including a first DWI, assault causing bodily injury and theft of $100 or more, are heard in the Tyler County Court by the County Judge; there is no county court at law. Felonies begin with magistrate warnings, go to a Tyler County grand jury and, once indicted, are tried in the 1A or 88th District Court, both of which hold court in Woodville on scheduled days.

Where pretrial inmates are held. State jail-standards figures from early 2022 listed the Tyler County Jail with a capacity of 43, and the Sheriff's Office says it also uses temporary holding cells. People charged in Tyler County who cannot make bail stay there while their cases move forward; if the jail runs short of space, some may be housed in a neighboring county under contract. Visitation takes place at the Tyler County Justice Center on Sundays and Tuesdays. For custody and release questions, call corrections at (409) 283-6331.

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

Three of Tyler County's four justice of the peace courts share a building on West Dogwood Street in Woodville; the Precinct 4 court is in Fred, in the southern part of the county. The justices handle Class C cases, evictions, small claims and truancy-related matters, and they serve as magistrates who warn arrested people and set bond at the Tyler County Jail.

Justice of the Peace courts

  • Precinct 1, 203 W. Dogwood St., Woodville, TX 75979, (409) 283-3631
  • Precinct 2, 203 W. Dogwood St., Suite 302, Woodville, TX 75979, (409) 283-6320, ext. 236
  • Precinct 3, 203 W. Dogwood St., Suite 303, Woodville, TX 75979, (409) 283-6320, ext. 235
  • Precinct 4, 20316 FM 92 S., Fred, TX 77660 (mail: P.O. Box 576), (409) 429-9500

Municipal court

  • Woodville Municipal Court, 400 W. Bluff St., Woodville, TX 75979, (409) 283-3255

Small towns such as Colmesneil, Chester and Ivanhoe generally rely on the Sheriff's Office and the justice courts, so a ticket written there usually goes to a justice of the peace. The citation itself names the court.

County and district courts

  • Tyler County Court (County Judge; Class A and B misdemeanors and appeals from the justice and municipal courts), 116 S. Charlton St., Woodville, TX 75979, (409) 283-2281
  • 1A District Court (Jasper, Newton and Tyler counties) and 88th District Court (Hardin and Tyler counties), sitting at the Tyler County Courthouse, 100 W. Bluff St., Woodville; District Clerk (409) 283-2162

Someone who loses a Class C case in a justice or municipal court can appeal to the County Court, where the case is heard again from scratch. Before paying a ticket, ask whether you qualify for a driving safety course or deferred disposition, which can keep the violation off your record.

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

Most Class A and B arrests in Tyler County are made by sheriff's deputies, Woodville police or troopers patrolling the U.S. 69 and U.S. 190 corridors. The arrested person is booked at the Tyler County Jail on North Magnolia Street.

Magistration and release

A justice of the peace, acting as magistrate, must see the person within 48 hours. The magistrate explains the accusation and the person's rights, asks whether he or she wants an appointed lawyer and can afford one, and sets bail using the public safety report the Damon Allen Act requires. Release options are a cash deposit, a surety bond written by a licensed bondsman, or a personal bond on the person's promise to appear. Conditions such as no contact with the complaining witness are standard in family-violence cases.

In the County Court

The Criminal District Attorney's office files the charging document, called an information, in the Tyler County Court. At arraignment the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. People who cannot afford a lawyer are appointed private counsel by the County Judge under the county's indigent defense plan; ask at magistration or call the County Court at (409) 283-2281. A misdemeanor jury in Texas has six members, and the verdict must be unanimous.

What the penalties look like

  • Theft: Class B from $100 to $749 (up to 180 days and $2,000); Class A from $750 to $2,499 (up to one year and $4,000).
  • Assault causing bodily injury: Class A. A finding of family violence can bar firearm possession and enhance a later charge to a felony.
  • Criminal trespass: usually Class B; Class A at a habitation or when the person carried a deadly weapon.
  • First DWI: Class B with a range of 72 hours to 180 days and a fine capped at $3,000, though probation is a frequent result. A 0.15 alcohol concentration makes it Class A, and an open container sets a six-day jail minimum. License suspension, a DWI education program, a state traffic fine and an ignition interlock may follow, and the administrative license case runs separately.

Possible endings include dismissal, pretrial diversion, deferred adjudication, probation, a fine or a jail term. Many Tyler County misdemeanors wrap up within two to six months.

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

Felony charges in Tyler County are handled by the same Criminal District Attorney's office that prosecutes misdemeanors. The two district judges who hear them each travel among several counties, so the Woodville felony docket meets on set weeks.

  1. Arrest and magistration. The defendant is booked at the Tyler County Jail and taken before a magistrate within 48 hours for warnings, a bail decision and a chance to ask for appointed counsel.
  2. Grand jury review. Prosecutors present the evidence to a Tyler County grand jury. A true bill (indictment) puts the case on the 1A or 88th District Court docket; a no-bill ends that presentation.
  3. Waiting in jail. If the State is not ready for trial within 90 days of a felony defendant's detention, Texas law generally requires release on a personal bond or reduced bail, except for certain violent charges.
  4. Pretrial and plea talks. After arraignment, the defense reviews the State's evidence and files motions. Most cases settle by plea bargain.
  5. Trial. A district court jury has 12 members and must vote unanimously. The defendant chooses before trial whether the judge or the jury will assess punishment.

Sentencing ranges

  • State jail felony: a state jail term of 180 days to two years and as much as $10,000 in fines.
  • Third-degree felony: two to 10 years in prison.
  • Second-degree felony: two to 20 years, the level for most home burglaries and aggravated assaults.
  • First-degree felony: five to 99 years or life.
  • Drug possession or delivery: the level turns on the drug's penalty group and the amount, ranging up to first degree.

Prior felony convictions can push a sentence into a higher range. Deferred adjudication and community supervision are widely used for first offenders. Inmates generally become parole-eligible after serving one-quarter of the sentence, counting good time, while "3g" offenders must serve half, and no less than two years. A Tyler County felony usually resolves in six to eighteen months. Appointed lawyers are assigned by the district courts under the indigent defense plan; ask at magistration or contact the District Clerk at (409) 283-2162.

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

Violent crimes are investigated by the Sheriff's Office, often with help from the Texas Rangers, and prosecuted by the Criminal District Attorney. Bail in these cases is often set beyond what a family can raise, and personal bonds are prohibited for violent offenses. Texas voters approved a 2025 constitutional amendment that lets judges deny bail in some violent-crime cases, so a defendant may be held without any bail amount at the Tyler County Jail.

  • Capital murder: punishable only by death or by life without parole.
  • Murder: a first-degree charge with a range of five to 99 years or life.
  • Sexual assault: a second-degree felony that also brings sex-offender registration. Aggravated sexual assault is first degree, and certain offenses against children under six or fourteen carry a 25-year floor.
  • Aggravated robbery: first degree; as a "3g" offense, it requires serving half the sentence before parole review.

Article I, section 30 of the Texas Constitution guarantees crime victims notice of court proceedings, the chance to confer with prosecutors and the right to address the court after sentencing. A violent felony in Tyler County commonly takes one to three years to reach a verdict or plea. Indigent capital defendants receive specially qualified counsel, frequently through the Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases.

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Juveniles (under 17) arrested in Tyler County

In Texas, juvenile court jurisdiction covers children who were between 10 and 16 years old at the time of the alleged act. Seventeen-year-olds go through the adult system and are booked into the Tyler County Jail.

From arrest to petition

An officer who takes a child into custody must notify the parents and bring the child to juvenile probation intake or another designated place, not to the adult jail. The juvenile probation officer serving Tyler County screens the case and can release the child to a parent, recommend informal handling, or refer it for a petition. The Criminal District Attorney files juvenile petitions. The county's juvenile board designates the juvenile court, which in Tyler County is the County Court or one of the district courts; the courthouse at (409) 283-2141 can direct families to the right office.

Detention

Tyler County does not operate its own juvenile detention center. A child who is not released is typically placed under contract in a certified regional facility, such as one in the Beaumont or Lufkin area. A judge must hold a detention hearing within two working days, and the child is entitled to a lawyer there.

Results of a juvenile case

  • Deferred prosecution or another informal disposition for lower-level first referrals.
  • Juvenile probation, sometimes with placement in a treatment or residential program.
  • Commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) if a felony is found.
  • Determinate sentencing for serious offenses, with a possible later transfer to adult prison.

A youth can be certified for adult prosecution, generally at 14 or older for capital and first-degree felonies (and certain aggravated controlled substance felonies) and at 15 or older for other felonies. Records of juvenile cases are generally confidential, and eligible records can be sealed.

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

Tyler County's federal cases belong to the Lufkin Division of the Eastern District of Texas. The division's courthouse is in downtown Lufkin, about an hour's drive north of Woodville.

  • Clerk of Court, Lufkin Division, Ward R. Burke U.S. Courthouse, 104 North Third Street, Lufkin 75901, (936) 632-2739
  • U.S. Attorney, Lufkin branch, 415 South 1st St., Suite 201, Lufkin, TX 75901; telephone through the Beaumont office at (409) 839-2538
  • Defense: the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Texas, or a private attorney from the court's Criminal Justice Act panel

When a case becomes federal

Federal prosecutors from Tyler County typically bring drug trafficking conspiracies, firearms cases involving people with felony records, internet crimes against children and federal benefit or bank fraud. Several units of the Big Thicket National Preserve lie in the county, and crimes on that federal land can be charged in federal court. A state arrest can become a federal case if agents and the U.S. Attorney decide to adopt it.

From arrest to sentence

Soon after the arrest the defendant is brought in front of a federal magistrate judge, who appoints counsel when needed. Release before a federal trial works differently from the state system, and bail is decided under the Bail Reform Act with no commercial bonding; the judge either sets release conditions monitored by U.S. Pretrial Services or orders the defendant detained, normally after a hearing held within three court days. When a case starts with a complaint, an indictment must follow within 30 days, and trial is due within 70 days under the Speedy Trial Act, subject to exclusions.

A guilty plea is the most common outcome. Sentencing follows a presentence investigation and applies the advisory federal Guidelines and any mandatory minimum. Federal prisoners earn limited good-conduct credit, serving roughly 85 percent of the term with no parole, and then begin supervised release. A trial requires a unanimous jury of 12, and appeals go to the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans.

Finding a federal inmate

To find a sentenced federal prisoner, enter a name or register number in the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. A person still awaiting trial who is held in a county jail under a U.S. Marshals Service contract may also be listed on that jail's own roster. Cases against minors seldom reach federal court.

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This page is a general overview of criminal cases in Tyler County and is not legal advice. Phone numbers, court schedules and jail practices change, so verify with the clerk before relying on them. To request a court-appointed lawyer, tell the magistrate or call the Tyler County Court at (409) 283-2281 for misdemeanors or the District Clerk at (409) 283-2162 for felonies.

Criminal Court Process for Tyler County Texas

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

WOODVILLE MUNICIPAL COURT
400 W BLUFF ST
WOODVILLE TX, 75979
409-283-3255
TYLER COUNTY JUSTICE-THE PEACE
203 W DOGWOOD ST # 101
WOODVILLE TX, 75979
409-283-3631
JIM MOORE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
20316 FM 92 S
FRED TX, 77616
409-429-9500

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