State Judicial Branch
Texas has a complex judicial system. Judges are elected in partisan elections. Texas has two supreme courts (courts of last resort). The Supreme Court hears civil cases and the Court of Criminal Appeals hears criminal cases. (Yes, the names of these courts add to confusion.) Both of Texas' courts of last resort are entirely Republican.
(court of last resort for civil cases)
Steven Kirkland for Place 2
R. K. Sandhill for Place 4
Kathy Cheng for Place 6
(court of last resort for criminal cases)
Maria T. (Terri) Jackson for Presiding Judge
Ramona Franklin for Place 7
Before a case is heard by either court of last resort, it must first be heard by a District Court of Appeals. There are 14 such court districts in Texas; Comal County falls into the Third District Court of Appeals. It hears both civil and criminal cases. It is also entirely Republican.
(highest appellate court in the state)
Edward Smith for Place 2
Chari Kelly for Place 3
Thomas J. Baker for Place 5
Gisela D. Triana for Place 6