Question

Why might someone argue the Texas court system is inefficient and irrational?

a. Judicial candidates are banned from talking about partisan elections but they also have to run on partisan labels

b. The texas courts often overlap with each other and look more like a patchwork array of courts

c. Judicial candidates are banned from receiving any campaign donations but yet have to finance a campaign for election

d.  Because judicial candidates end up having to consider different points of view during an election

Answer 1

Ans: Option b.:The Texas courts often overlap with each other and look more like a patchwork array of courts

Explanation: The Texan constitution has a four-tiered system of state courts. It includes district courts, constitutional county courts, statutory county courts and justice of peace courts. Each court was intended to have its own jurisdiction which is consistent between counties. It was to be based on the severity of civil and criminal issues being judged. The system actually has a patchwork of arrays with overlapping jurisdiction and it differs from county to county. The key example is that a court in a county would have a very different jurisdiction to a court in another county with an identical name in another county. To understand a court’s jurisdiction many sources would have to be referred as follows

· first one needs to look at the Texan constitution,

· Then the general statutory provisions for all courts at that level should be looked into

· Next the specific statutory provisions that authorizes the individual court has to be checked.

· Then refer to statutes creating other courts in the county, which might affect the jurisdiction. Then to specific subject matter particular for particular court for example Texas family court.

· Lastly refer to local rules that may deal with a specific subject matter preference for particular courts for example child protection.

This makes a normal person bewildered and confused. This system is both confusing and irrational. It is not adding to the esteem of the state government.