Cooke County, located in North Texas along the Texas-Oklahoma border, has a population of around 40,000. Established in 1848, it is named after William Gordon Cooke, a military figure and early settler in Texas. The county seat in Gainesville is home to the Frank Buck Zoo, named after the film actor and director Frank Buck.

Courts in Cooke County

Cooke County has various courts that handle different types of legal issues. The court structure comprises District, Constitutional, County, Justice, and Municipal Courts.

The Cooke County District Court presides over felony criminal cases such as drug trafficking and robberies and handles civil cases for disputes above $200,000. It also presides over family law matters, including divorce and child custody lawsuits and Juvenile cases involving minors accused of criminal acts.

The Constitutional Courts in Cooke County have original jurisdiction over probate cases, including wills, estates, and guardianship cases. The Constitutional Courts handle Class A and B misdemeanor criminal cases and civil disputes for claims under $10,000.

The Cooke County Courts at Law presides over misdemeanor criminal cases such as assaults and driving while intoxicated. Civil cases heard by the court involve disputes for claims between $200 to $200,000.

The Justice of Peace Court handles small claims to $20,000, minor offenses such as public intoxication and traffic violations, and rental property disputes. The Municipal Courts deal with violations of city ordinances, including traffic violations, petty theft, building code violations, zoning violations, and local business regulations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Cooke County

Public court records are documents and information filed and maintained by the court and are available for public inspection. The District Clerk’s Office maintains court records for the county. Record seekers can access public court records electronically using  Texas Records Online. Record seekers may also request public judicial records at the clerk of the court office in person at the courthouse or by mail.

Types of Public Court Records in Cooke County

The availability of public court records in Cooke County makes the judiciary effective and accountable while empowering citizens to the workings of the county’s legal system. The following types of public court records are open in Cooke County:

• Civil Court Records: Employment disputes, defamation, business litigations, foreclosures, and personal injury claims
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors
• Probate Records: Guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, wills, and name change
• Family Court Records: Child custody, child support, divorce, annulment, alimony, and legal separation
• Traffic Records: Illegal parking, driving under the influence, parking tickets, and driving with suspended licenses

Confidential Court Records in Cooke County

Confidential court records in Cooke County are documents from legal proceedings that contain sensitive or private information inaccessible to the public.  Confidential court records are sealed by the courts or federal or state laws. Examples of confidential court records in Cooke County include:

• Adoption records
• Mental health records
• Juvenile court records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Substance abuse treatment records

Public court records contain personal data restricted from public view. Personal identifying information is confidential and redacted from public court records to prevent misuse, fraud, and identity theft. Personal identifiers excluded from public court records include:

• Medical records
• Social Security numbers
• Financial account numbers
• Tax identification numbers
• Insurance policy numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Cooke, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Cooke County, juvenile delinquency offenses are on the rise. There are many reasons for the inflation in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Texas often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of charges, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 51 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Cooke County. Of that total, 100% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 51 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Cooke County, are focusing on family counseling and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Cooke County juvenile delinquency tallies will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Cooke County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Gainesville
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1848
Total Square Miles:	898
2019 Population:	39,895
Persons/Square Mile:	0.02
County Contact:	100 S Dixon St County Courthouse Gainesville , TX 76240-4717 http://www.co.cooke.tx.us

Cooke County, TX Courts