The district courts have countywide geographical
jurisdiction and the district judges are elected countywide to four year
terms. District courts are trial courts of general subject-matter
jurisdiction. They have “exclusive, appellate, and original jurisdiction of
all actions, proceedings, and remedies, except in cases where exclusive,
appellate, or original jurisdiction may be conferred by (the) Constitution
or other law on some other court…”Generally, this jurisdiction includes
original jurisdiction of felony criminal prosecutions, suits for divorce,
suits over title, election contests, juvenile case, and civil suits with an
amount in controversy of at least $200.00 with no ceiling. In addition,
these courts have original jurisdiction over all causes of action for which
a remedy or jurisdiction is not provided by law or by the Constitution. They
have the power to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction,
certiorari, sequestration, attachment, garnishment, and all writs necessary
to enforce their jurisdiction. Appeals from judgments of the district courts
are to the courts of appeals, except those capital offense cases in which
the death penalty has been assessed, which are appealed directly to the
Court of Criminal Appeals. In addition, the district courts are required by
law to appoint the County Auditor; appoint the Community Supervision and
Corrections Department (Adult Probation) Director and approve the budget of
the department: and, serve on the County Juvenile Board which oversees the
operations of the Juvenile Probation Department.. All five district courts
are located in the Justice Center.
