El Paso County, a county in Texas State, was established in 1850 and named after the El Paso del Norte mountain pass. Today, it is the sixth-largest county in Texas and home to over 800,000 people. Its county seat is the City of El Paso.

Courts in El Paso County

The El Paso County court system consists of several courts, each with specific jurisdiction and responsibilities. The highest court in the county is the 8th Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from the trial courts. Proceedings held in this court include civil cases in which the judgment is more than $100 and criminal cases, excluding death penalty cases and post-conviction writs of habeas corpus.

El Paso County also has District Courts with jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases emerging in their respective districts. There are two Criminal District Courts that hear felony criminal cases and four Civil District Courts that hear wrongful dismissals, discriminations, damages, workers' compensations, breaches of contracts, and other civil actions. Other District Courts in the county hear both criminal and civil cases.

The county has three specialized District Courts solely dedicated to handling family-related cases. These courts hear divorce cases, child support, protective orders, adoptions, termination of parental rights, child protective services cases, and juvenile delinquencies.

Several County Courts of Law in El Paso County handle different cases. Some of these courts exclusively hear criminal cases involving Class A and Class B misdemeanors. There are also two County Courts that handle civil cases only. Additionally, there's a County Court that solely hears family cases and another that has jurisdiction over both civil and criminal matters.

In El Paso County, the Probate Courts handle legal matters involving the wills of deceased individuals and guardianships for incapacitated persons and minors. These courts also oversee court-ordered involuntary mental health commitments.

The seven Justices of the Peace Courts in El Paso County exercise original jurisdiction over criminal cases involving fines of up to $500 and civil matters in which the disputed amount is up to $10,000. These courts can also issue search and arrest warrants and conduct marriages.

Municipal Courts in El Paso County handle violations of city ordinances and misdemeanor criminal cases that are punishable by small fines.

Where to Find Public Court Records in El Paso County

In El Paso County, criminal records, civil records, probate records, and other public court records can be accessed online or found at the El Paso County Clerk's Office. The Court Clerks also maintain and provide copies of public court records. Interested individuals can request copies of court records by mail or in person at the County Clerk’s office or the court where the case was heard.

Types of Public Court Records in El Paso County

The types of public court records generally available in El Paso County include:

• Civil case records
• Criminal case records
• Family law case records
• Probate case records

Confidential Court Records in El Paso County

Court records in El Paso County may be sealed or deemed confidential to protect the privacy of individuals involved in the case, such as minors or victims of sexual assault. Confidential court records in El Paso County are not available to the public, and only authorized individuals may access them. Examples of confidential court records include:

• Adoption court records
• Court records with the full names of minors
• Juvenile court records
• Mental health court records
• Medical records

Juvenile Delinquency in El Paso, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the El Paso 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 670 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of El Paso County. Of that total, 94% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 629 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of El Paso County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	El Paso
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1850
Total Square Miles:	1,015
2019 Population:	840,410
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	500 E San Antonio Ave County Courthouse El Paso , TX 79901-2419 http://www.epcounty.com/

El Paso County, TX Courts