Composed of the Chief Justice and eight Justices, the Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters in the State of Texas. The Supreme Court is located in Austin, next to the State Capitol.
The Justices of the Supreme Court are elected to staggered six-year terms in state-wide elections. When a vacancy arises the Governor may appoint a Justice, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve out the remainder of an unexpired term until the next general election. All members of the Court must be at least 35 years of age, a citizen of Texas, licensed to practice law in Texas, and must have practiced law (or have been a lawyer and a judge of a court of record together) for at least ten years (see Tex. Const., Art. 5, Sec. 2).
By statute the Court has administrative control over the State Bar of Texas. Tex. Gov't Code § 81.011. The Court is also the sole authority for licensing attorneys in Texas and appoints the members of the Board of Law Examiners which administers the Texas bar examination. Tex. Gov't Code §§ 82.00, 82.004.
The Court promulgates the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Texas Rules of Evidence and other rules and standards.
Latest News & Updates
- Recently Released Orders & Opinions
- Court Adopts Amendments to Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure 2.16 and 6.08
- Task Force Established to Study International Law Practice in Texas
- Court Hires New Mandamus Attorney
- Justice Brister Submits Resignation
- Justice O’Neill to Leave Court at End of Term
- Court to Begin Taking Law Clerk Applications on September 8 [Brochure in PDF].
- Court Approves Task Force for Legal Services Delivery
- State Bar Foundation Grant To Enable Local Rules To Be Online
- Justice Simmons to Head Judicial Committee on Information Technology
- Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation Appointments, Reappointments
- Mandamus Attorney Becomes Central Staff Attorney
- Harry Reasoner Chosen to Lead Access to Justice Commission
- Recent Court News & Advisories [Archives]
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Updated: 10-Sep-2009