Smith County, Texas, was founded in 1846 and is named after General James Smith, who fought during the Texas Revolution. The U.S. 2020 Census reports that Smith County has a land area of 921.47 square miles and over 230,000 residents. Tyler City is the county’s largest city and seat of government.

Courts in Smith County

The trial court system in Smith County consists of District Courts, a Constitutional County Court, Courts at Law, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts.

Smith County currently has four District Courts, namely the 7th, 114th, 241st, and 321st district courts. While the 321st District Court handles only family law proceedings, the other three district courts deal with civil and criminal matters. Cases handled by Smith County district courts include felony criminal cases, election contest cases, disputes involving title to land, and civil claims of $200 or more.

The Constitutional County Court in Smith County has jurisdiction over similar cases heard by the District and Justice Courts. These cases include probate matters such as wills, estates, and guardianships. Furthermore, this Court handles misdemeanor offenses and civil actions in which the amount in dispute is up to $250,000.

The Courts at Law exercises jurisdiction over a wide range of cases, including civil actions, misdemeanor offenses, third-degree felonies, state jail felonies, divorces, child custody, adoptions, and probate matters.

In Smith County, there are Justice of the Peace Courts divided into five precincts. Each precinct exercises jurisdiction over misdemeanor offenses punishable by fine only and civil actions involving up to $20,000.

Municipal Courts in Smith County preside over misdemeanors, including traffic offenses and city ordinance violations. In addition, these courts handle juvenile offenses and hearings for driver’s licenses.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Smith County

The Office of the District Clerk is the official record keeper for all proceedings of the district courts. Smith County also has a County Clerk who records all documents for the Constitutional County Court and the Courts at Law. These records are also available online via the Court Records Inquiry website. This website grants public access to all kinds of criminal and civil records, including contract cases, personal injury, probate, felony, and misdemeanor proceedings. Interested residents may also register at re:SearchTX portal to obtain civil case records in Smith County. However, to access Municipal Court records, contact the particular court that heard the case.

Types of Public Court Records in Smith County

Public court records are documents and information from court proceedings that are accessible to members of the public. Examples of these kinds of records include:

• Court calendars
• Trial dockets
• Court orders
• Trial exhibits and evidence
• Case files

Confidential Court Records in Smith County

In Smith County, certain court documents are not publicly accessible and can only be accessed by the parties involved and their attorneys. Examples of confidential records are:

• Juvenile records
• Records sealed by order of court
• Records relating to victims of family violence
• Adoption records
• Mental health treatment records

Juvenile Delinquency in Smith, TX

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Smith 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 437 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Smith County. Of that total, 99% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 431 court cases. Another 0% were dependency cases that accounted for 0 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Smith County, TX

https://texas.gov/

County Seat:	Tyler
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1846
Total Square Miles:	950
2019 Population:	227,727
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	100 N Broadway Ave County Courthouse Tyler , TX 75702-7236 https://www.smith-county.com/

Smith County, TX Courts