Texas Judiciary System

The Judiciary in Texas

• Texas operates under a dual supreme court system.
• The Texas Supreme Court handles civil and juvenile cases.
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals handles criminal cases and death penalty appeals.

Lower Courts in Texas

• District Courts preside over major civil and felony criminal cases.
• County-Level Courts handle probate cases, misdemeanors, and appeals from local courts.
• Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts deal with minor civil disputes, small claims, traffic violations, and local ordinance violations.
• Texas has 14 Courts of Appeals that review decisions from lower courts before cases reach the high courts.

Judicial Selection in Texas

• Judges are elected in partisan elections, where they run with political party affiliations.
• Critics argue that partisan elections compromise judicial impartiality.
• Critics argue that the system favors incumbents and well-funded candidates.

Issues in the Texas Judiciary

• Partisan elections lead to judges raising campaign money, often from attorneys and businesses.
• Texas courts exhibit a lack of diversity in race, gender, and socioeconomic background.
• The court system faces backlogs due to increasing caseloads.
• Texas executes more prisoners than any other state, drawing national and international criticism.

Law Enforcement in Texas

• Texas has over 2,500 law enforcement agencies at the state, county, and municipal levels.
• The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) oversees highway patrol and criminal investigations.
• The Texas Rangers, the oldest law enforcement agency in the U.S., handles specialized investigations.
• County Sheriffs handle county-level law enforcement, jail operations, and civil process service.

Criminal Justice System in Texas

• Texas is known for being tough on crime, but recent reforms aim to address wrongful convictions and excessive sentencing.
• Texas has one of the highest incarceration rates in the U.S.
• DNA testing has led to the exoneration of multiple Texas prisoners.
• Texas uses private facilities raising concerns about abuse, neglect, and profit-driven incarceration.

Death Penalty in Texas

• Texas has carried out more executions than any other state since 1976.
• Critics argue the death penalty disproportionately affects racial minorities and those with poor legal representation.
• Reforms have included improved legal representation for death row inmates.
• Reforms include limits on executing individuals with mental illness or intellectual disabilities.

Local Governments in Texas

• Texas has 254 counties, the most in the U.S.
• Counties are governed by a Commissioners Court, not a judicial court.
• The Commissioners Court includes a County Judge that presides over the court.
• The court includes four Commissioners representing different parts of the county.
• Counties are responsible for law enforcement, infrastructure, and public records.

Municipalities in Texas

• Home-Rule Cities have a population of 5,000+ and have more local autonomy.
• General-Law Cities have a population of under 5,000 and must follow state laws.
• In a Mayor-Council System, the Mayor serves as the chief executive, while the council acts as a legislative body.
• In a Council-Manager System, the city council appoints a professional city manager to run daily operations.
• Special Districts are created to provide specific services and are independent from city or county governments.

Issues in Local Government

• Cities expanding into suburban areas face legal and political resistance.
• The State government requires local governments to perform certain functions without providing funding.
• Rural areas struggle with funding public services, while urban areas face infrastructure strain.

Education Policy in Texas

• Public schools are funded primarily through local property taxes.
• The property tax results in inequality between rich and poor districts.
• The Robin Hood Plan redistributes money from wealthier to poorer districts.
• Texas emphasizes standardized testing (STAAR) to measure student performance.

Health and Welfare Policy in Texas

• Medicaid and CHIP provide healthcare for low-income Texans.
• Texas has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA.
• Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents in the U.S.

Environmental Policy in Texas

• Texas is a leader in wind energy production.
• Texas is heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
• The state has weak environmental regulations compared to other states.

Political History of Texas

• Texas was Democratic until the late 20th century.
• Texas is now a Republican stronghold.
• Conservative Democrats switched to the Republican Party in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Urban areas trend Democratic, while rural areas remain Republican.

Elections in Texas

• Texas has an open primary system, meaning voters do not have to register with a party.
• General Elections are held every even-numbered year in November.
• Texas has strict Voter ID Laws.
• There are concerns about voter suppression because of strict Voter ID Laws.

Low Voter Turnout in Texas

• There is a lack of competitive races in Texas.
• There are strict voter ID laws in Texas.
• There is limited early voting access in some areas of Texas.

Education Policy Challenges in Texas

• Funding disparities exist due to reliance on property taxes.
• There is standardized testing controversy (STAAR testing).
• There are school voucher debates regarding funding private education with public money.

Healthcare Issues in Texas

• Texas did not expand Medicaid, leaving millions uninsured.
• Emergency rooms are overburdened due to lack of access to preventive care.

Criminal Justice Reform in Texas

• Mass incarceration rates remain high.
• Efforts continue that look to reduce drug sentences and provide alternatives to jail.

Transportation Issues in Texas

• Texas relies heavily on highways and toll roads.
• There is limited public transit in Texas.
• Rapid urban growth in cities like Houston and Austin has led to traffic congestion issues.