The Texas Bench Book is a practical aid and quick reference for trial court judges in performing their judicial responsibilities. It contains a compilation of information by the Texas Center for the Judiciary's Bench Book Committee and Texas Tech School of Law. Texas trial court judges will find several resource formats, including checklists, sample scripts for hearings and trials, and guidelines. Note that the Texas Bench Book is not designed to dictate judicial procedures, but is meant to assist a trial court judge while on the bench.
The Capital Cases Bench Book is written by Texas judges for the benefit of Texas judges presiding over a capital trial. Judicial authors, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, Texas Wesleyan Law Review editors, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals staff counsel, and the Texas Center for the Judiciary staff collaborated to write, proof, make suggestions, and edit the Capital Cases Bench Book. It is reviewed and updated on-line under the supervision of the Texas Center for the Judiciary and through the collaborative efforts of Texas judges and the Texas Wesleyan Law Review editorial staff. Note that the Capital Cases Bench Book is not designed to dictate judicial procedures, but is meant to assist capital case trial court judges. Judges presiding over capital cases should always double check the suggested substantive and procedural law for any changes in the law or unique differences in the specific case over which they are presiding.
Judges across the state now have access to essential information on child welfare law in a user-friendly, online CPS Bench Book. The Bench Book, which is the first of its kind, allows judges to navigate the bench book like a website. It was authored by seasoned district and associate judges with dozens of years on the bench presiding over CPS cases. The book is designed to benefit new judges and experienced judges alike. When researching with the Bench Book, a judge is able to search chronologically by event (e.g., investigations, removals, adversary, status, permanency, placement, final hearing, appeals, and adoption) and topically (ICPC, ICWA, Medical Care, or Permanency Care Assistance). The information is set out in a simplified format to facilitate real-time use from the bench. Or if further research is needed, all of the case law and statutory references are directly linked to Lexis/Nexis, free of charge. Through the Texas Center for the Judiciary's website, the CPS Bench Book provides secure access to checklists, practice notes, national and statewide policies, and numerous links to helpful guidelines, forms and other websites.
The purpose of this bench book is to serve as a guide for judges who evaluate public health control measures, such as quarantine and isolation, particularly in the face of a catastrophic event such as a pandemic flu. The Texas Constitution discusses Texas' open courts policy, which is based on the importance of everyone having access to justice and to a day in court. The likelihood that this important aspect of our society could be disrupted during a public health emergency, such as a major hurricane or a more long-term emergency such as a pandemic flu, has led to the creation of this bench book and the forms included in its appendix. This book briefly lays out which laws govern during a public health emergency and what role the courts play in ensuring that the balance between public safety and individual rights is not forgotten.
This bench book provides the Texas judiciary with a single, comprehensive reference for family violence law. In addition to identifying and organizing the relevant primary sources (state and federal statutes annotated with case law), the benchbook also takes advantage of current technology by providing hyperlinks to the online resources discussed in each chapter's comments section. It is a project of the Office of Court Administration and funded with a grant from the Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women's STOP program.
The ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.
Visit this website to review the JRS-II booklet which provides information regarding retirement benefits available to eligible justices, judges or commissioners of specified courts in the State.
The Judicial Education Reference, Information and Technical Transfer (JERITT) Project is the national clearinghouse for information on continuing judicial branch education for judges and other judicial officers; administrators and managers; judicial branch educators; and other key court personnel employed in the local, state, and federal courts.
This section of the OCA website lists all the current opinions given by the Committee on Judicial Ethics.
The Office of Court Administration (OCA) is a state agency that provides administrative support and technical assistance to all of the courts of Texas. The agency was created in 1977 and operates under the direction of the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Traveling to a conference out-of-state? Find out how much is authorized for meals and lodging.
State Commission on Judicial Conduct
The 2010 State Commission on Judicial Conduct is the independent Texas state agency that is responsible for investigating allegations of judicial misconduct or judicial disability, and for disciplining judges.
The site features the U.S. Code and state constitutions and codes, a collection of all recent opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court and state judicial opinions, overviews of various legal topics, and links to sites offering court decisions, statutes, regulations and other legal materials.
Visit FindLaw's searchable database of the 5th Circuit Court decisions since July 1997. Also, review an archive of Opinion Summaries since September 2000. Browsable by year and searchable by docket number, case title, and full text.
This website offers resources on general laws and various legal topic.
A comprehensive legal destination, law.com allows visitors to track breaking developments in the law, research issues and cases, explore nationwide job openings in the legal industry, and much more.
The Office of Court Administration, in collaboration with Texas criminal justice professionals, has prepared and promulgated the standardized felony judgment forms pursuant to Section 42.01 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Effective 01/11/02.
“Mechanisms of Injury in Childhood” utilizes sophisticated and detailed medical illustrations and animation as well as radiographs to demonstrate the location, characteristic, and biomechanics of injuries in young children that involve internal structures (fractures, head injuries, abdominal injuries). This DVD provides a realistic demonstration of injury mechanisms that go well beyond the capabilities of the typical two-dimensional illustration. The goal for users of the DVD is an improved knowledge of injuries and findings in abuse cases, an understanding of the actual physical mechanisms of the injuries, and increased confidence in the assessment and investigation of cases of suspected child abuse. View Video
Find the Military Committee's Judges' Guide to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act here.
The Correctional Management Institute of Texas is responsible for developing and delivering professional development training programs for personnel in juvenile and adult institutional and community corrections agencies.
The Judicial Family Insitute serves as a clearinghouse for judicial officers and their families to be in contact with individual state and national judicial educational organizations for answers to questions that arise ranging from ethical issues to practical matters.
The Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas
Founded in 1979, NAWJ is a non-profit organization with more than 1,400 members, including both female and male judges, from every state and all levels of the judiciary. The association's mission is to provide strong, committed judicial leadership to improve the administration of justice and to ensure fairness, gender equality and diversity in American courts.
Founded in 1971 by U.S. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes justice through leadership and service to the state courts. Through numerous programs and divisions, the NCSC is committed to improving the administration of justice in the United States and abroad.
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is dedicated to serving the nation's children and families by improving the courts of juvenile and family jurisdictions. Our mission is to better the justice system through education and applied research and improve the standards, practices and effectiveness of the juvenile court system.
Since 1963, The National Judicial College has provided educational and professional development opportunities to over 58,000 judges worldwide. From limited jurisdiction judges to U.S. Supreme Court justices, attendees from all areas of the judicial system have benefited from the very best in judicial education offered at the College.
The State Bar of Texas is an administrative agency of the judicial branch in Texas. Every licensed attorney is a member of the State Bar, which provides a wide array of services to its members and the public.
The State of Texas website is intended to serve as the official compilation of Texas government electronic resources, both at the state and local levels, and as an index of Texas governmental or taxing authority web sites and services.
The Supreme Court of Texas created the Texas Access to Justice Commission to coordinate services for people who need legal help but may not be able to afford it or find it. The Commission’s goals include reducing barriers to the justice system and increasing resources and funding for Legal Aid.
TACA is organized to encourage and promote continuing education and maintenance of professional standards for Court Administration in the State of Texas.
Texas CASA advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system through the development, growth and support of local CASA programs.
Texas Lawyers for Children provides statewide assistance to judges and attorneys who handle child abuse and neglect cases. TLC's mission is to improve case outcomes for abused and neglected children by enhancing the quality of legal services they receive.
The Texas State Cemetery serves as the burial ground for Texas' most notable sons and daughters. The Cemetery includes the graves of 11 Governors, three Lieutenant Governors, two American Revolutionary War veterans, 64 Republic of Texas veterans, and 2,200 Confederate veterans and their spouses.
These files include revisions to the Texas Statutes through the 81st Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.
Last Update: October 31, 2011
