How Do the 15 Texas Courts of Appeals Work & What Cases Go to the New 15th Court of Appeals?
Direct Answer Under Texas Law
Texas has 14 regional Courts of Appeals (1st and 14th in Houston, 2nd in Fort Worth, 3rd in Austin, 4th in San Antonio, 5th in Dallas, 6th in Texarkana, 7th in Amarillo, 8th in El Paso, 9th in Beaumont, 10th in Waco, 11th in Eastland, 12th in Tyler, and 13th in Corpus Christi/Edinburg) PLUS the statewide 15th Court of Appeals in Austin (created by SB 1045 and upheld by the Texas Supreme Court in In re Dallas County, 697 S.W.3d 352 (Tex. 2024)).
Critical Texas Procedural Trap to Watch Out For
Under Tex. Gov't Code § 22.220(d), while standard private civil tort appeals go to the regional 1st–14th Court of Appeals covering the trial county, civil appeals brought by or against the STATE OF TEXAS, a state agency (such as TxDOT, DPS, or a state university hospital under the Texas Tort Claims Act), or state officials—as well as appeals from the new Texas Business Court—go EXCLUSIVELY to the 15th Court of Appeals!
Recommended Action Plan for Texas Claimants
Check whether your appeal involves a state-level agency (15th Court of Appeals) vs. a private party, city, or county (1st–14th Regional Court of Appeals), and note overlapping appellate districts in East/Northeast Texas and Houston.
Detailed Texas Statutory & Case Law Breakdown
Under Tex. Gov't Code §§ 22.201 (15 Appellate Districts), 22.220(d) (Exclusive Jurisdiction of 15th COA) and controlling Texas appellate precedent in In re Dallas County, 697 S.W.3d 352 (Tex. 2024) (Constitutionality of the 15th Court of Appeals), Texas trial and appellate courts apply strict statutory rules to this exact issue. Unlike generic multi-state legal summaries, Texas tort procedure under the Civil Practice and Remedies Code (CPRC), Insurance Code, Transportation Code, and Labor Code enforces specific statutory formulas—including the 51% proportionate responsibility bar (CPRC § 33.001), paid-or-incurred medical expense admissibility (CPRC § 41.0105 / Haygood), and mandatory statutory lien caps (Prop. Code Ch. 55 & Ins. Code Ch. 140).
Step-by-Step Texas Procedural Checklist
- Verify the exact statutory text of Tex. Gov't Code §§ 22.201 (15 Appellate Districts), 22.220(d) (Exclusive Jurisdiction of 15th COA) and how Texas courts apply In re Dallas County, 697 S.W.3d 352 (Tex. 2024) (Constitutionality of the 15th Court of Appeals) in your county's appellate district.
- Beware of the Texas Procedural Trap: Under Tex. Gov't Code § 22.220(d), while standard private civil tort appeals go to the regional 1st–14th Court of Appeals covering the trial county, civil appeals brought by or against the STATE OF TEXAS, a state agency (such as TxDOT, DPS, or a state university hospital under the Texas Tort Claims Act), or state officials—as well as appeals from the new Texas Business Court—go EXCLUSIVELY to the 15th Court of Appeals!
- Execute the Texas Action Plan: Check whether your appeal involves a state-level agency (15th Court of Appeals) vs. a private party, city, or county (1st–14th Regional Court of Appeals), and note overlapping appellate districts in East/Northeast Texas and Houston.
- Preserve all physical, electronic, and medical billing records early so your CPRC § 18.001 affidavits and TRCP 194.2 Initial Disclosures are complete.
Frequently Asked Questions Under Texas Law
How Do the 15 Texas Courts of Appeals Work & What Cases Go to the New 15th Court of Appeals?
Texas has 14 regional Courts of Appeals (1st and 14th in Houston, 2nd in Fort Worth, 3rd in Austin, 4th in San Antonio, 5th in Dallas, 6th in Texarkana, 7th in Amarillo, 8th in El Paso, 9th in Beaumont, 10th in Waco, 11th in Eastland, 12th in Tyler, and 13th in Corpus Christi/Edinburg) PLUS the statewide 15th Court of Appeals in Austin (created by SB 1045 and upheld by the Texas Supreme Court in In re Dallas County, 697 S.W.3d 352 (Tex. 2024)). Key Texas Trap to Avoid: Under Tex. Gov't Code § 22.220(d), while standard private civil tort appeals go to the regional 1st–14th Court of Appeals covering the trial county, civil appeals brought by or against the STATE OF TEXAS, a state agency (such as TxDOT, DPS, or a state university hospital under the Texas Tort Claims Act), or state officials—as well as appeals from the new Texas Business Court—go EXCLUSIVELY to the 15th Court of Appeals!
What Texas statute and Supreme Court / appellate precedent control the 15 texas courts of appeals explained?
This question is governed in Texas by Tex. Gov't Code §§ 22.201 (15 Appellate Districts), 22.220(d) (Exclusive Jurisdiction of 15th COA) and the legal standards articulated in In re Dallas County, 697 S.W.3d 352 (Tex. 2024) (Constitutionality of the 15th Court of Appeals). Recommended step: Check whether your appeal involves a state-level agency (15th Court of Appeals) vs. a private party, city, or county (1st–14th Regional Court of Appeals), and note overlapping appellate districts in East/Northeast Texas and Houston.
Mandatory 6-Point Texas Legal Disclaimer & Notice
- 1. Not Legal Advice: This website provides general educational and statutory reference information strictly scoped to Texas personal injury law, Texas courts, and Texas statutes. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice, a legal opinion, or counseling on any specific set of facts.
- 2. No Attorney-Client Relationship: Viewing this website, reading any statutory or procedural guide, or using any interactive calculator, checklist, or reference tool does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and this publisher or any contributor.
- 3. Content May Be Inaccurate or Outdated: Although articles reference the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code (CPRC), Texas Transportation Code, Texas Insurance Code, Texas Labor Code, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (TRCP), and published decisions of the Supreme Court of Texas and the 15 Texas Courts of Appeals, legislation and appellate holdings change continually. Information on this website may be incomplete, inaccurate, or superseded by subsequent statutory amendments or judicial opinions.
- 4. Verify With a Licensed Texas Attorney: Deadlines under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, municipal charter notice windows under § 101.101, and comparative fault bars under Chapter 33 are strictly enforced. Always verify your legal rights, filing deadlines, and jurisdictional rules directly with an attorney licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
- 5. No Guarantee of Results: Statutory damage cap formulas, proportionate responsibility illustrations, and medical bill adjustment examples are mathematical and educational illustrations only. They do not predict, warrant, or guarantee any specific verdict, settlement amount, or legal outcome in any Texas court.
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