Texas Greenbook

Only italicize, no underlining

Chapter 2-4
Citing to cases
Same as blue book
Difference is Ch 4
Courts of Appeals cases
Ch.7 Texas Trial courts
Ch 9 Texas Const
Ch 10 Statutes
Appendices Pg. 105
D, E, F  citations

Texas Court System

1. Highest (Biforcated)
a. Texas Supreme Court Civil Appeals (Discretionary Review)
b. Texas Court of Ciriminal Appeals (Discretionary Review)
i. “Death Penalty Appeals” have to be heard, appeals go straight here
2. Intermediate - Intermediate Court of Appeals
a. 14 jurisdictions (Civil and Cirminal Appeals) (Mandatory Review)
i. Has to listen to your appeals
ii. Page 20 Greenbook
1. Houston 1st binds 1st
2. Houston 14th binds 14th
3. But they both bind all the trial courts in Houston (rarely)
4. If you do appeal, you don’t know where you’re going to land so
cite to both of them in your brief (for now)

3. Trial Courts
a. State District Trial Courts (General and Specific Jurisdictions)
b. County Trial Courts (Limited jurisdiction)
i. Municipal Courts “Dangerous Dogs” (Limited Criminal Jurisdiction)
ii. Justice of the Peace Courts (Limited Civil & Criminal Jurisdiction)
“Tex. Civ. App.” Older court system
1981 – Intermediate CoA allowed to hear criminal appeals
Appellate Districts (Rule 4.3.1, Page 20)

Texas Supreme Court Citation (same in blue book) Chapter 2

State cases  regional reporters (For TX: southwestern)
Court of Criminal Appeals
Still south western reporter, but (Tex. Crim. App.) for criminal appeals
Use State because citation tells us what state it is.

Differences are in Chapter 4, how to cite to intermediate court of appeals

Pg 295
Greenbook adds 2 requirements
(1) The city of the intermediate appellate court
(2) The writ/petition history
Cooper v. Tex. Dep’t of Human Res., 691 S.W.2d 807, 809 (Tex. App. – Austin 1985,
writ ref’d n.r.e.).
“PDR” Petition for discretionary review
Write / Petition
1. 4 main categories
“Writ/Petition refused) – the judgement of the lower court of appeals is correct. Same
precedential value as Texas Supreme Court.
“magic wand”

Ex.
CoA petition refused from El Paso  binds every court in Texas
Only a civil thing, not in criminal
There is no criminal equivalent
Writ refused. NOT writ refused n.r.e.
Tex. App. – City Hear, writ or pet, history)
 City
No abbreviations
Houston district must be included
pp. 21-24
Texas Citation Exercise

Rule 12.3.2
Texas  current statutes you don’t need to have publication and year.