Section Twelve - The Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch

The last governing institution created in the Texas and U.S. Constitutions is the judiciary, which is designed to resolve disputes. These disputes can involve private parties, private organizations, and governments. These disputes must also involve real cases and controversies regarding laws and behavior, and be brought by people who have been impacted by them. 

The courts are unique - on the national level, not the state - because they are appointed by the chief executive, subject to confirmation by a majority of the senate. In Texas, these people are elected as nominees of a political party. Regardless, judges are intended to make decisions dispassionately according to the law, not according to the politics or partisanship. At least that's the intent. 

1 - Constitutional Design.

2 - Statutory Design.

3 - U.S. Code: Title 28—Judiciary And Judicial Procedure.

4 - Process.

5 - The Supreme Court.

6 - Judicial Review.

7 - Test Cases.

Terms

- common law
- case law
- judicial procedure
- due process of law
- criminal law
- civil law
- public law
- private law
- precedence
- stare decisis
- trial court
- court of appeals
- supreme court
- jurisdiction
- original jurisdiction 
- appellate jurisdiction
- writ of habeas corpus
- landmark Supreme Court cases
- district courts
- U.S. court of appeals
- judicial appointments
- senatorial courtesy
- dispute resolution
- coordination
- rule interpretation
- judicial review
- supremacy clause
- checks and balances
- presidential power
- lawmaking
- cases and controversies
- rules of access
- ripeness
- standing
- class action suits
- mootness
- writ of certiorari
- rule of four
- the flow of cases
- solicitor general
- amicus curiae
- law clerks
- briefs
- oral arguments
- conference
- opinion writing
- majority
- concurrence
- dissenting
- judicial restraint
- judicial activism
- political ideology
- implementation
- strategic behavior
- power
- appellate courts
- appellate jurisdiction
- bench trial
- caseload
- civil cases
- common law
- judge made law
- criminal cases
- disposed
- dual structure
- en banc
- felony
- jurisdiction
- jury trial
- mandatory review
- merit selection
- misdemeanors
- opinion
- original jurisdiction
- probate

Lecture Topics

- The Judicial Power.
- Adjudication.
- Case Law.
- US Courts.
- US Supreme Court.
- The Texas Judiciary - Relevant Links.
- The Texas Judicial Branch.
- Alvin Municipal Court.
- US Constitution: Article 3.
- Article 3: Annotated.
- 1876 Texas Constitution: Article 5. 
- Texas Constitution: Article 5.
- Texas Statutes: Government Code.
- Texas Courts.