case using the correct law and procedures. If the court sees that a gross miscarriage of justice is being done or that an error was obviously committed, they will usually overturn the trial courts decision (Coffin, 85). In the vast majority of cases, the decision of a Court of Appeal is final. The state Supreme Court does not review the vast majority of cases it steps in to resolve new or disputed questions of law. It is also the highest state appellate court for civil matters (supreme.courts.state.tx.us/AboutCourt.htm). It is not allowed to hear criminal cases. These cases are the responsibility of the Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest state jurisdiction for criminal appeals. All cases in which the death penalty has been sentenced, the case is automatically sent to the Court of Criminal Appeals (cca.courts.state.tx.us/). Also, the Court may choose on its own to hear a case. It consists of nine members, a Presiding Judge and eight associate Justices. The judges who serve on appeals courts are collectively known as appellate justices. The Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court is Thomas Phillips (supreme.courts.state.tx.us/justices.htm). The court is comprised of five white males, three white females, and one African-American male (http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/AboutCourt.htm). In addition to the nine justices on the Supreme Court, there and eighty justices allowed to sit on the Courts of Appeal. Along with cases coming from trial courts, the Supreme Court has the authority to rule on certain which no other court in Texas has the jurisdiction to do so. The Texas Supreme Court also has the responsibility of maintaining the efficient operation of the court system. The Court also makes the rules which govern trials heard in civil and juvenile Texas courts. The Courts of Appeal are divided into 14 geographical districts and hear cases arising within each district. In Texas courts, trial courts are municipal co...
