What jurisdiction does the County Court at Law have?

• A. Civil only
• B. Traffic violations only
• C. Criminal only
• D. Criminal and Civil A&B Misdemeanors

Answer: (D)

The County Court at Law has a dual role: it hears criminal matters and civil matters within a limited monetary range. In criminal cases, it handles Class A and Class B misdemeanors, which are more serious than what Justice or Municipal Courts typically deal with. In civil matters, it resolves disputes up to its monetary limit, which is designed to handle mid-sized civil cases that aren’t large enough for district court. Traffic violations, by contrast, are usually handled in Municipal or Justice Courts, so this court isn’t limited to traffic alone. That combination of criminal A&B misdemeanors and civil matters within the court’s monetary limit is why the correct conclusion is that the County Court at Law handles both criminal and civil matters.