Law and Government of Dallas - Courts

Courts

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which exercises original jurisdiction over 100 counties in North and West Texas, convenes in the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse in the Government District of downtown. The same building additionally houses United States Bankruptcy and Magistrate Courts and a United States Attorney office. Dallas also is the seat of the Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas. State trial courts sitting in the City of Dallas or in adjacent portions of Dallas County with jurisdiction of matters arising in the City include civil district courts, criminal district courts, family district courts, juvenile district courts, county courts at law, county criminal courts, justice of the peace and small claims courts, and probate courts. In addition, the City of Dallas maintains its own municipal courts for trying Class C misdemeanors including violations of City ordinances, and certain civil matters. See Courts of Texas and Texas Judicial System for jurisdictional descriptions and further information about the Texas court system.