§ 45.011 Rules of Evidence
§ 45.012 Electronically Created Records
§ 45.013 Filing With Clerk by Mail
§ 45.014 Warrant of Arrest
§ 45.015 Defendant Placed in Jail
§ 45.016 Personal Bond; Bail Bond
§ 45.017 Criminal Docket
§ 45.018 Complaint
§ 45.019 Requisites of Complaint
§ 45.020 Appearance by Counsel
§ 45.0201 Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference
§ 45.021 Pleadings
§ 45.0211 Plea by Defendant Charged With Family Violence Offense
§ 45.0215 Plea by Minor and Appearance of Parent
§ 45.0216 Expunction of Certain Conviction Records
§ 45.0217 Confidential Records Related to Charges Against or Conviction of a Child
§ 45.0218 Confidential Records Related to Fine-Only Misdemeanor
§ 45.022 Plea of Guilty or Nolo Contendere
§ 45.023 Defendant’s Plea
§ 45.024 Defendant’s Refusal to Plead
§ 45.0241 Acceptance of Defendant’s Plea
§ 45.025 Defendant May Waive Jury
§ 45.026 Jury Trial; Failure to Appear
§ 45.027 Jury Summoned
§ 45.028 Other Jurors Summoned
§ 45.029 Peremptory Challenges
§ 45.030 Formation of Jury
§ 45.031 Counsel for State Not Present
§ 45.032 Directed Verdict
§ 45.033 Jury Charge
§ 45.034 Jury Kept Together
§ 45.035 Mistrial
§ 45.036 Verdict
§ 45.037 Motion for New Trial
§ 45.038 New Trial Granted
§ 45.039 Only One New Trial Granted
§ 45.040 State Not Entitled to New Trial
§ 45.041 Judgment
§ 45.042 Appeal
§ 45.0425 Appeal Bond
§ 45.0426 Filing Bond Perfects Appeal
§ 45.043 Effect of Appeal
§ 45.044 Forfeiture of Cashbond in Satisfaction of Fine
§ 45.0445 Reconsideration of Satisfaction of Fine or Costs
§ 45.045 Capias Pro Fine
§ 45.046 Commitment
§ 45.047 Civil Collection of Fines After Judgment
§ 45.048 Discharged From Jail
§ 45.049 Community Service in Satisfaction of Fine or Costs
§ 45.0491 Waiver of Payment of Fines and Costs for Certain Defendants and for Children
§ 45.0492 Community Service in Satisfaction of Fine or Costs for Certain Juvenile Defendants
§ 45.050 Failure to Pay Fine; Failure to Appear; Contempt: Juveniles
§ 45.051 Suspension of Sentence and Deferral of Final Disposition
§ 45.0511 Driving Safety Course or Motorcycle Operator Course Dismissal Procedures
§ 45.052 Dismissal of Misdemeanor Charge On Completion of Teen Court Program
§ 45.053 Dismissal of Misdemeanor Charge On Commitment of Chemically Dependent Person
§ 45.0531 Dismissal of Parent Contributing to Nonattendance Charge
§ 45.0541 Expunction of Failure to Attend School Records
§ 45.056 Juvenile Case Managers
§ 45.057 Offenses Committed by Juveniles
§ 45.058 Children Taken Into Custody
§ 45.060 Unadjudicated Children, Now Adults; Notice On Reaching Age of Majority; Offense
§ 45.061 Proceedings Concerning Electronic Transmission of Certain Visual Material Depicting Minor
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Terms Used In Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 45 > Subchapter B - Procedures for Justice and Municipal Courts

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Affidavit: means a statement in writing of a fact or facts signed by the party making it, sworn to before an officer authorized to administer oaths, and officially certified to by the officer under his seal of office. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Amortization: Paying off a loan by regular installments.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Bench trial: Trial without a jury in which a judge decides the facts.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Comptroller: means the state comptroller of public accounts. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • General-law municipality: means a municipality designated by Chapter 5 as a Type A general-law municipality, Type B general-law municipality, or Type C general-law municipality. See Texas Local Government Code 1.005
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Home-rule municipality: means a municipality designated by Chapter 5 as a home-rule municipality. See Texas Local Government Code 1.005
  • in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by writing, printing, or other means. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Justice: when applied to a magistrate, means justice of the peace. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Month: means a calendar month. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Municipality: means a general-law municipality, home-rule municipality, or special-law municipality. See Texas Local Government Code 1.005
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Population: means the population shown by the most recent federal decennial census. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Remand: When an appellate court sends a case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Signature: includes the mark of a person unable to write, and "subscribe" includes the making of such a mark. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Signed: includes any symbol executed or adopted by a person with present intention to authenticate a writing. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • sworn: includes affirm or affirmed. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • United States: includes a department, bureau, or other agency of the United States of America. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • Week: means seven consecutive days. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.
  • Writ of certiorari: An order issued by the Supreme Court directing the lower court to transmit records for a case for which it will hear on appeal.
  • Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Year: means 12 consecutive months. See Texas Government Code 311.005