What jurisdiction do the District Courts have?

• A. Civil only
• B. Criminal only
• C. Criminal and Civil (Felony)
• D. Municipal only

Answer: (C)

District Courts in Texas are trial courts of general jurisdiction. They handle both criminal and civil matters, including felony cases, so they can preside over serious crimes as well as civil disputes of substantial value. This dual authority is why the correct understanding is that district courts have jurisdiction in both criminal and civil matters (felonies included). Municipal courts, by contrast, focus on city ordinance violations and misdemeanors, so they don’t cover felonies or broad civil lawsuits. A civil-only description would miss the district court’s role in criminal cases, while a criminal-only description would miss the civil side.