District Courts are the primary trial courts in the Texas justice system. Trial courts are courts in which witnesses are heard, exhibits are offered into evidence, and a verdict (in a jury trial) or a decision (in a case tried by a judge alone) is reached based on the facts of the case. A trial court has one judge. The presiding judge of the 420^th Judicial District Court is Ed Klein.

 

District Courts are courts of general jurisdiction and have original jurisdiction in all felony criminal cases, divorce cases, juvenile cases, CPS (Child Protective Services) cases, cases involving title to land, election contest cases, civil matters in which the amount in controversy (the amount of money or damages involved) is $200 or more, and any matters in which jurisdiction is not placed in another trial court. While most district courts try both criminal and civil cases, some courts may specialize in civil, criminal, juvenile, or family law matters. 

 

District Courts also have many duties relating to their criminal cases. The judges can hear bond forfeitures from cases in their courts, conduct arraignments, set bond amounts, empanel grand juries, and issue search and arrest warrants. The geographical area served by the 420^th Judicial District Court is Nacogdoches County.