Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: An Inventory of Court of Criminal Appeals Records at the Texas State Archives, 1892-2010


Overview
	Creator:	Texas. Court of Criminal Appeals.
	Title:	Court of Criminal Appeals records
	Dates:	1892-2010
	Abstract:	The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). These records document the activities of the court. They consist of minutes, opinions, orders, dockets, indexes, account books, correspondence, press releases, and case files that may include transcripts, briefs, exhibits, statements, memoranda, motions, warrants, questionnaires, writs, photographs, videotapes, audio cassettes, and floppy discs, dating 1892-2010.
	Quantity:	6,970.66 cubic ft.
	Location:	Please note that most of the case files are stored at the State Records Center. Because of the possibility that portions of these records have been determined by the court to be confidential, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research. Records requested before 10:00 a.m. will usually be available for review by an archivist by 4:00 p.m. the same day. Records requested after 10:00 a.m. and before 3:00 p.m will usually be available for review by an archivist by noon the next day. See the restrictions on access statement in this document for further information.
	Repository:	Texas State Archives

Agency History

A constitutional amendment adopted September 22, 1891, followed by legislation approved April 13, 1892, created the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, thereby abolishing the Court of Appeals (which had been created by the Constitution of 1876). Or, to put it another way, all civil jurisdiction was removed from the Court of Appeals, whose name was changed to the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases of whatever grade (i.e., for both felonies and misdemeanors). However, only appeals from state district or county courts are heard by the Court of Criminal Appeals, not appeals from justice courts, mayors' courts, or other inferior courts, or from county court cases imposing a judgment or fine of less than $100: in these cases, the judgment of the county court is final. The Court of Criminal Appeals also has original jurisdiction to investigate the detention of persons. It has the power to issue the writ of habeas corpus, and other necessary writs under such regulations as may be prescribed by law.

At first the court consisted of three judges elected by the voters, for terms of six years. (In 1966 the number was increased to five, and in 1981 to eight.) The three existing judges on the Court of Appeals in 1892 were to serve out their elected terms as judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The judges selected one of their number to be presiding judge. Like the Supreme Court at that time, the Court of Criminal Appeals held three terms annually, of three months each, at Tyler (October through December), Dallas (January through March), and Austin (April through June). The court appointed a separate clerk, and maintained separate records, for each geographical term.

Beginning in October 1909, the Court of Criminal Appeals met only in Austin, between October and June (House Bill 58, 31st Legislature, Regular Session). At that time the numbering of cases began all over, with Number 1.

Opinions were published beginning with Volume 31 of the Texas Criminal Reports: Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Court of Criminal Appeals of the State of Texas (beginning with the Austin Term, 1892). The Archives and Information Services Division of the State Library has volumes 31 through 151 (1892-1946) and also volume 157 (1952).

In 1925, the 39th Legislature (in Senate Bill 370, Regular Session) created a two-member "Commission in aid of the Court of Criminal Appeals." Appointed by the court, these commissioners discharged duties assigned by the court and submitted opinions to the court for approval. The practical result was the operation of a five-member judicial body. The Commission was abolished in 1966 when the legislature expanded the number of judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals to five. At that point, the Commissioners serving became Judges, pending the next regular election.

In September 1981, by constitutional amendment, the courts of civil appeals received criminal jurisdiction for the first time, to relieve the backlog in the Court of Criminal Appeals. At that time they were renamed courts of appeals, totalling fourteen in number. The appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Criminal Appeals remained exclusive, however, for cases involving the death penalty.

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Scope and Contents

Succinct documentation of the court's activities during the early years is found in the minutes (1892-1941), opinions (1892-1923 and 1925-1983), and opinion registers (1921-1954). There are gaps in the minutes before 1909, and many gaps in the opinions. The volume opinions should be supplemented by the published opinions or reports. The Archives and Information Services Division of the State Library has a complete set of Texas Criminal Reports: Cases Argued and Adjudged in the Court of Criminal Appeals between 1892 and 1946. Opinions and orders handed down by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals are as brief as practicable while still addressing every issue raised and necessary to final disposition of the appeal. The court may affirm, modify, or reverse the judgment of the court below and dismiss the case, or render the judgment or decree that the court below should have rendered. It can also reverse the judgment of the court below and remand the case for further proceedings. Some opinions are filed by individual justices concurring or dissenting from the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Opinions are also located in Case files, 1892-1988, in Petitions for discretionary review files, 1981-1988, and in Execution case files, 1974-2010.

Orders primarily concern applications or petitions to file for writs of habeas corpus or writs of mandamus and date from 1953 to 1972. These applications are considered and either granted or denied by the Court of Criminal Appeals. Court terms were originally held between October of one year to June of the following year. Beginning in October of 1966, court terms were extended from October of one year to September of the following year.

The dockets (assignment dockets before 1909) provide one way (if the researcher knows the year) of determining the numbers assigned to the cases heard between 1892 and 1925, although there are many gaps. Another way to determine the number of a case, especially if the researcher only knows the appellant's name, is through the general indexes (for the Tyler and Dallas terms before 1909, and for all cases between 1909 and 1947). Of course probably a better, quicker, and surer means of discovering the number is through the published Texas Criminal Reports, which has an alphabetical table of contents at the beginning of each volume.

For the period 1892-1988, the activities of the court are most thoroughly documented in the case files, which contain the legal documents filed with and during an appeal (motions, briefs, arguments, orders, opinions, statements of facts, testimony, etc.). A major gap appears in the cases, between about 1899 and 1908. Two numbering systems were used for the case files: one for the period of the three geographically distinct terms (1892-1909), and one for the period of the centralized court (1909-1988). [Note that Centralized court case files numbers 2 thru 25006, 1909-1950 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/50104/tsl-50104.html), Centralized court case files number 25007 thru 49719, 1950-1975 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/50105/tsl-50105.html), and Centralized court case files number 49720 thru 70736, 1975-1988 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/30190/tsl-30190.html), are listed separately online and appear at the end of the printed finding aid in the Archives Reading Room.] To access a case, therefore, the researcher needs to know three things: the number of the case; whether it was heard before or after 1909; and if before 1909, in which geographical term it was heard (Tyler, Dallas, or Austin).

Petitions for discretionary review files date 1981-1988, and consist of case files resulting from petitions for discretionary review to review the rulings of the intermediary Courts of Appeals. The files contain copies of documents filed with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals--the district clerk's file (indictments, pleas of the defendant, bills of exception, assignments of error, charges of the court, verdicts and judgments, motions, orders, briefs, sentences, etc.) and statements of fact (the trial transcripts of pre-trial hearings, voir dire of prospective jurors, the guilt/innocence phase, the punishment phase, and exhibits)--as well as documents created for or by the Court of Criminal Appeals (motions, briefs, arguments, orders, opinions, etc.).

The execution case files date 1974-2010 and document the death penalty appeals heard by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Criminal Appeals is exclusive for cases involving the death penalty and the appeals process in such cases is automatic. The appeals document the cases of all prisoners executed in Texas from 1999 to 2010; also included are a few cases of executions between 1993 and 1998. Additional earlier death penalty appeals (prior to 1988) are documented in the series Case files. If you are reading this electronically, click on the link to go to the full finding aid. If you are reading this in paper, the series finding aid is found at a separate divider within the binder: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals execution case files (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/30112/tsl-30112.html).

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

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Organization of the Records
	These records have been organized by State Archives staff into twelve series and six subseries:

		Minutes, 1892-1941, 4.45 cubic ft. (9 volumes)
		Opinions records, 1892-1983, 54.07 cubic ft. Opinions, 1892-1923, 1925-1983, 53.73 cubic ft. Opinion registers, 1921-1954, 0.34 cubic ft. (5 volumes)
		Orders, 1953-1972, 0.5 cubic ft.
		Dockets, 1892-1925, 8.29 cubic ft. (38 volumes) Assignment dockets, 1892-1909, 4 cubic ft. (21 volumes) Dockets, 1908-1913, 1916-1925, 2.51 cubic ft. (8 volumes) Execution dockets, 1893-1909, 0.28 cubic ft. (2 volumes) Assistant Attorney General's dockets, 1895-1905, 1.5 cubic ft. (7 volumes)
		Indexes, 1892-1947, 2.29 cubic ft. (7 volumes)
		Accounting records, 1893-1944, 1.26 cubic ft. (9 volumes)
		Lists of appealed and referred cases, 1913-1934, 1.54 cubic ft.
		Correspondence, 1896-1917, 1951-1953, 1.27 cubic ft.
		Press releases, 1971, 1977-1979, 1983-1988, 1990-1991, 1993, fractional
		Case files, 1892-1988, 5,512.58 cubic ft.
		Petitions for discretionary review files, 1981-1988, 243 cubic ft.
		Execution case files, 1974-2010, 1,141.75 cubic ft.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Execution case files have been found to contain documents sealed by the court according to Texas Public Information Act, 552.107(2). The same may be true of regular Case files and Petitions for discretionary review files. When a researcher requests a case, the file will be reviewed by an archivist in order to remove sealed documents. The researcher will be informed that sealed documents have been removed from the file and it will then be up to the researcher to obtain permission from the Court to access the documents.

Execution case files have been found to contain personal information of jurors and prospective jurors. The same may possibly be true of regular Case files and Petitions for discretionary review files. According to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 35.29, information collected by the court or by a prosecuting attorney during the jury selection process about a person who serves as a juror, including the juror's home address, home telephone number, social security number, driver's license number, and other personal information, is confidential and may not be disclosed by the court, the prosecuting attorney, the defense counsel, or any court personnel except on application by a party in the trial or on application by a bona fide member of the news media acting in such capacity to the court in which the person is serving or did serve as a juror. On a showing of good cause, the court shall permit disclosure of the information sought. (Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 371, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993) The Court of Criminal Appeals has verified that juror information is to be withheld from the public according to the statute cited above. Therefore, when a case is requested, an archivist will review the case to ascertain whether or not juror information is present. If such information is found, the researcher will be informed and the documents will be removed from the file. If an individual wishes to access juror information, they will have to obtain permission from the Court. Because the judiciary is not covered by the Texas Public Information Act, the Archives cannot estimate how long it will take the Court to respond to a request.

Rarely, non-court documents have been found in the Execution case files. The same may possibly be true of regular Case files and Petitions for discretionary review files. Before a researcher is granted access to a case, an archivist will review the files and remove all such materials. The researcher will be informed if materials are removed. If the researcher wishes to access the documents, the Archives will contact the Court to determine the appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis. Because the judiciary is not covered by the Texas Public Information Act, the Archives cannot estimate how long it will take the Court to respond to a request.

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).

Technical Requirements

Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials.

Researchers wishing to access videotapes, audiotapes, or floppy discs must contact the Archives Preservation Officer to obtain the necessary equipment.

Letterpress books are extremely fragile; pages are tissue-thin and bindings are either broken already or ready to break. Therefore they may not be photocopied, and must be treated with great care.

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Index Terms
	The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
	Corporate Names:
		Texas. Court of Criminal Appeals.
	Subjects:
		Criminal courts--Texas.
		Judgments, Criminal--Texas.
		Appellate courts--Texas.
		Court records--Texas.
		Judicial opinions--Texas.
		Executions and executioners--Texas.
		Capital punishment--Texas.
	Document Types:
		Minutes--Texas--Court records--1892-1941.
		Case files--Texas--Court records--1892-2010.
		Dockets--Texas--Court records--1892-1925.
		Decisions--Texas--Court records--1892-1954.
		Indexes (reference sources)--Texas--Court records--1892-1947.
		Account books--Texas--Court records--1893-1944.
		Correspondence--Texas--Court records--1896-2010.
		Opinions--Texas--Appellate courts--1892-2010.
		Orders (judicial records)--Texas--Appellate courts--1953-1972.
		Press releases--Texas--Appellate courts--1971-1993.
	Functions:
		Adjudicating.

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Related Material



	Texas State Archives
		The records of individual Texas Governors may contain additional information on cases that reached the Court of Criminal Appeals.
		Texas Court of Appeals, Records, 1876-1892, 15.48 cubic ft.
		Texas Supreme Court, Records, 1840-1980, 6,396.81 cubic ft. [includes criminal appeals prior to 1876]
		Texas Department of Criminal Justice records, 1849-2004, 170.08 cubic ft.
		Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, Execution case files, 1954-1964, 4.5 cubic ft. (RESTRICTED)
		Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, Pardon books, 1898-1930, 2.37 cubic ft.
		Texas Secretary of State executive clemency records, 1840, 1845-2009, 110.68 cubic ft., 168 reels of microfilm (originals), 22 reels of microfilm (duplicates)
		Texas Office of the Governor, General Counsel's Office, Execution files, 1940s-1990s, 3 cubic ft. (RESTRICTED) [There is no finding aid for these unprocessed records. Call numbers are 2002/213-1 thru 3. The records will need to be reviewed by an archivist before they can be used. Ask the reference staff for further information.]
		Texas Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, Records, 1973-1990, bulk 1987-1990, 28 cubic ft. (see the series General Counsel Executive Clemency files, Execution case files, 1978-1990, 1.5 cubic ft.)
		Texas Governor George W. Bush, General Counsel's execution files, 1886, 1892, 1903, 1912-1921, 1925, 1932, 1939-2000, bulk 1986-2000, 68.24 cubic ft.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1991/139, 1993/088, 2001/083, 2002/080, 2002/160, 2003/004, 2003/078, 2003/123, 2004/153, 2005/142, 2006/030, 2006/074, 2006/156, 2006/369, 2007/208, 2008/185, 2010/139, 2010/140, 2011/041, 2011/042

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (via the Tarlton Law Library of the University of Texas at Austin), on April 24, 1991; June 9, 1992; and directly from the Court of Criminal Appeals on January 3, 2001; November 15, 2001; July 17, 2002; September 6, 2002; November 25, 2002; February 28, 2003; June 3, 2004; April 27, 2005; October 28, 2005; November 22, 2005; May 18, 2006; August 21, 2007; August 28, 2008; August 10, 2010; October 25, 2010; and October 29, 2010; and the Texas Legislative Reference Library on January 26, 2006.

Processing Information

Opinions and orders processed by Lisa M. Hendricks, February 1992

Preliminary inventory of records created by Tony Black, August 1993

Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, January 2001

Corrections and further encoding to TARO project standards by Nancy Enneking, October 2001

Case files were rekeyed, and an additional finding aid of Court of Criminal Appeals records was incorporated by Nancy Enneking, March 2002

Two accessions of execution case files added by Nancy Enneking, September 2002

One accession of execution case files added by Nancy Enneking, December 2002

Finding aid was converted to EAD 2002 by Nancy Enneking, July 2003

One accession of execution case files added by Nancy Enneking, August 2004

Restriction statement and other additions by Tony Black, November 2004

Execution case files were made a separate inventory, and encoding to DACS standards by Tony Black, May 2005

Two accessions (case files and press releases) added, and corrections made by Tony Black, December 2008

Two accessions (case files and petitions for discretionary review files) added, and corrections made by Tony Black, October 2010

One accession (execution case files) added by Tony Black, November 2010

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Minutes, 1892-1941,
4.45 cubic ft. (9 volumes)

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). These records document the activities of the court, by means of concise, daily narratives of its proceedings. They consist of eight volumes (and part of another) containing minutes of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, 1892-1941. The Tyler term appears to be missing volume 2, thus lacking minutes for October 1900 through December 1907. The Dallas term appears to be missing minutes for January 1894 through March 1907. The Austin term appears to be complete (April 1892 through May 1909). For the period after the court was centralized, minutes are complete in three typescript volumes, from October 1909 through July 1941.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff by term, and then chronologically. Arrangement by the creator within each volume is chronological.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Minutes, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Accession Information

Accession number: 1993/088

Processed by

Tony Black, August 1993

Volume

211-095

Tyler, volume 1, October 4, 1892-December 13, 1899

Volume

211-080

Tyler, October 5-December 14, 1908

Volume

211-033

Dallas, January 7-March 22, 1893

Volume

211-080

Dallas, January 6-March 27, 1908

Volume

211-080

Dallas, January 4-April 6, 1909

Volume

211-077

Austin, volume 1, April 4, 1892-May 6, 1901

Volume

211-078

Austin, volume 2, April 1, 1901-June 26, 1907

Volume

211-079

Austin, volume 3, June 26, 1907-July 24, 1909

Volume

211-080

Austin, April 6-July 15, 1908

Austin, April 5-May 25, 1909

Volume

211-081

Volume 1, October 4, 1909-April 1, 1914

Volume

211-082

Volume 2 April 8, 1914-June 28, 1929

Volume

211-083

Volume 3 October 7, 1929-July 1, 1941

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Opinion records, 1892-1983,
54.07 cubic ft.

Organization

These records have been organized by State Archives staff into two subseries:

Opinions, 1892-1923, 1925-1983, 53.73 cubic ft.

Opinion registers, 1921-1954, 0.34 cubic ft. (5 volumes)

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Opinion records, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1991/139, 1993/088

Processed by

Lisa M. Hendricks, February 1992

Tony Black, August 1993

Opinions, 1892-1923, 1925-1983,
53.73 cubic ft.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). These records document the opinions issued by the court. They consist entirely of opinions handed down by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and range in date from 1892 to 1923 and 1925 to 1983. Early records comprise eighteen volumes containing the full text Records of Opinions for some terms of the Court of Criminal Appeals, namely Tyler (five volumes, 1892-1909); Dallas (two volumes, 1893-1907); Austin (two volumes, 1892-1907); one volume containing parts of all three terms (1905-1907); and eight volumes, all typescript, covering the centralized period (1909-1923). The following gaps appear in the opinion records:

Tyler term:
- May 23, 1895-December 1, 1896 (vol. 2)
- December 20, 1900-December 16, 1902 (vol. 5)
- November 24, 1904-October 27, 1908 (vol. 7-9)
Dallas term:
- February 28, 1895-March 24, 1903 (vol. 2-6)
- June 26, 1904-February 27, 1906 (vol. 8-?)
Austin term:
- October 1-December 6, 1892
- May 19, 1898-May 30, 1905
- April 27, 1907-May 18, 1909?
Centralized period:
- March 24-November 1, 1910 (vol. 3)
- March 16-June 20, 1911 (vol. 5)
- February 8, 1912-March 14, 1916 (vol. 7-17)
- December 28, 1916-January 13, 1920 (vol. 19-21)
- December 23, 1920-February 21, 1922 (vol. 23-24)

To fill in the gaps, the researcher should consult the published Texas Criminal Reports, beginning with volume 31 (1892); the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library has volumes 31-151 (1892-1946) and volume 157 (1952).

The written opinions ranging in date from 1925 to 1983 are as brief as practicable while still addressing every issue raised and necessary to final disposition of the appeal. The court may affirm, modify, or reverse the judgment of the court below and dismiss the case, or render the judgment or decree that the court below should have rendered. It could also reverse the judgment of the court below and remand the case for further proceedings. Some opinions are filed by individual justices concurring or dissenting from the decision of the court of appeals. Court terms were originally held between October of one year to June of the following year. Beginning in October of 1966, court terms were extended from October of one year to September of the following year.

Opinions for those cases ending in the upholding of a death penalty (and ultimately, execution) are also located in Execution case files, 1974-2005.

Arrangement

The volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff by term, and then chronologically. Opinions dating from the court term beginning in October of 1925 to the term ending in September of 1972 are bound in volumes in the chronological order in which they were handed down by the court. Opinions are no longer bound dating from the term beginning in October of 1972, but have been kept within the court term in which they were handed down and are filed in folders grouped numerically by the first three digits in their unique case number. Each case number remains constant so that a particular case number may be encountered in more than one court term depending on the number of appeals filed for a particular case. (Case numbers can be ascertained by name of appellant through the Clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals.)

Volume

211-096

Tyler Term (1892-1909)

Tyler, vol. 1, October 15, 1892-May 22, 1895

Volume

211-100

Tyler, vol. 3, December 2, 1896-November 2, 1898

Volume

211-101

Tyler, vol. 4, November 2, 1898-December 19, 1900

Volume

211-102

Tyler, vol. 6, December 17, 1902-November 23, 1904

Volume

211-104

Tyler, vol. N, October 19, 1905-December 6, 1905; October 10, 1906-December 12, 1906

Volume

211-093

Tyler, vol. 10, October 28, 1908-May 12, 1909

Volume

211-098

Dallas Term (1893-1909)

Dallas, vol. 1, January 7, 1893-February 27, 1895

Volume

211-103

Dallas, vol. 7, March 25, 1903-June 25, 1904

Volume

211-104

Dallas, vol. N, February 28, 1906; February 6, 1907-March 20, 1907

Volume

211-097

Austin Term (1892-1909)

Austin, December 7, 1892-June 27, 1896

Volume

211-099

Austin, vol. 1, April 15, 1896-May 18, 1898

Volume

211-104

Austin, vol. N, May 31, 1905-June 24, 1905; April 18, 1906-June 29, 1906; April 10-24, 1907

Volume

211-105

Centralized period (1909-1923)

Volume 1, May 19, 1909-December 8, 1909

Volume

211-106

Volume 2, December 8, 1909-March 23, 1910

Volume

211-107

Volume 4, November 2, 1910-March 15, 1911

Volume

211-108

Volume 6, June 21, 1911-February 7, 1912

Volume

211-109

Volume 18, March 15, 1916-December 27, 1916

Volume

211-110

Volume 22, January 14, 1920-December 22, 1920

Volume

211-094

Volume 25 [?], February 22, 1922-June 14, 1922

Volume

211-111

Volume 26, October 4, 1922-February 28, 1923

Volume

1991/139-1

Opinions, October 1925- September 1972
(bound volumes)

October 1925 - June 1926

Volume

1991/139-2

October 1926 - June 1927

Volume

1991/139-3

October 1927 - June 1928

Volume

1991/139-4

October 1928 - June 1929

Volume

1991/139-5

October 1929 - June 1930

Volume

1991/139-6

October 1930 - June 1931

Volume

1991/139-7

October 1931 - June 1932

Volume

1991/139-8

October 1932 - June 1933

Volume

1991/139-9

October 1933 - June 1934

Volume

1991/139-10

October 1934 - June 1936

Volume

1991/139-11

October 1936 - June 1939

Volume

1991/139-12

October 1939 - June 1940

Volume

1991/139-13

October 1940 - June 1941

Volume

1991/139-14

October 1941 - June 1942

Volume

1991/139-15

October 1942 - June 1946

Volume

1991/139-16

October 1946 - June 1948

Volume

1991/139-17

October 1948 - June 1950

Volume

1991/139-18

October 1950 - June 1952

Volume

1991/139-19

October 1952 - June 1954

Volume

1991/139-20

October 1954 - June 1955

Volume

1991/139-21

October 1955 - June 1956

Volume

1991/139-22

October 1956 - June 1957

Volume

1991/139-23

October 1957 - June 1958

Volume

1991/139-24

October 1958 - June 1959

Volume

1991/139-25

October 1959 - June 1960

Volume

1991/139-26

October 1960 - June 1961

Volume

1991/139-27

October 1961 - June 1962

Volume

1991/139-28

October 1962 - June 1963

Volume

1991/139-29

October 1963 - June 1964

Volume

1991/139-30

October 1964 - June 1965

Volume

1991/139-31

October 1965 - June 1966

Volume

1991/139-32

October 1966 - September 1967

Volume

1991/139-33

October 1967 - September 1968

Volume

1991/139-34

October 1968 - September 1969

Volume

1991/139-35

October 1969 - September 1970

Volume

1991/139-36

October 1970 - September 1971

Volume

1991/139-37

October 1, 1971-February 9, 1972

Volume

1991/139-38

February 16, 1972 - May 24, 1972

Volume

1991/139-39

May 31, 1972-September 25, 1972

Box

1991/139-40

Opinions, October 1972 - September 1973
(not bound)

26,733

32,780

37,860

38,552

40,224

42,194

42,319

Box

1991/139-40

42,743

44,000's

45,000's

45,100's

45,200's
[2 folders]

45,300's
[2 folders]

45,400's

45,500's

Box

1991/139-41

45,600's

45,700's
[2 folders]

45,800's
[3 folders]

45,900's

Box

1991/139-42

45,900's

46,000's

46,100's

46,200's

46,300's

46,400's

46,500's

46,600's

Box

1991/139-43

Opinions, October 1973 - September 1974

35,045

39,902

43,000's

45,000's

46,000's

46,148

46,262

46,485

46,581

46,600's

46,700's

46,800's

46,900's

47,000's

47,100's

47,200's

47,300's

47,400's

Box

1991/139-44

47,500's

47,600's

47,700's
[2 folders]

47,800's

47,900's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-45

48,000's

48,100's
[2 folders]

48,200's
[2 folders]

48,300's

Box

1991/139-46

48,300's

48,400's
[2 folders]

48,500's
[2 folders]

48,600's

Box

1991/139-47

48,600's

48,700's
[2 folders]

48,800's
[2 folders]

48,900's

49,000's

Box

1991/139-48

26,081

40,261

45,090, 45,501

46,918, 46,245

47,507, 47,031, 47,032

48,044, 48,074

48,158

48,200's

48,300's

48,458

48,500's

48,600's
[2 folders]

48,700's

48,800's

48,900's

Box

1991/139-49

Opinions, October 1974 - September 1975

49,000's
[2 folders]

49,100's
[2 folders]

49,200's
[2 folders]

49,300's

Box

1991/139-50

49,300's

49,400's
[2 folders]

49,500's
[2 folders]

49,600's

Box

1991/139-51

49,700's
[2 folders]

49,800's
[2 folders]

49,900's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-52

50,000's

50,100's

50,200's

50,300's

50,400's

50,500's

50,600's

50,700's

50,800's

50,900's

51,000's

Box

1991/139-53

Opinions, October 1975 - September 1976

42,461

44,437

47,560

48,174

48,263

48,334

48,767

49,286

49,300's

49,404, 49,457

49,516, 49,595

49,616, 49,683

49,700's

49,800's

49,900's

50,020, 50,093, 50,099

50,100's

50,200's

50,300's

50,400's

50,500's

Box

1991/139-54

50,600's
[2 folders]

50,700's
[2 folders]

50,800's
[2 folders]

50,900's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-55

51,000's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-54

51,100's
[2 folders]

51,200's
[2 folders]

51,300's

Box

1991/139-56

51,300's

Box

1991/139-54

51,400's
[2 folders]

51,500's
[2 folders]

51,600's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-57

51,700's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-54

51,800's
[2 folders]

51,900's
[2 folders]

52,000's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-58

52,100's

52,200's

52,300's

52,400's

52,500's

52,600's

52,700's

52,800's

52,900's

53,000's

Box

1991/139-59

Opinions, October 1976 - September 1977

3,802

30,246

46,123

47,507, 47,662

48,291

49,000's

50,000's

51,000's

51,100's

51,200's

51,300's

51,400's

51,500's

51,600's

51,700's

51,800's

51,900's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-60

52,000's

52,100's

52,200's

52,300's
[2 folders]

52,400's

Box

1991/139-61

52,500's
[2 folders]

52,600's

52,700's
[2 folders]

52,800's
[2 folders]

52,900's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-62

53,000's
[2 folders]

53,100's
[2 folders]

53,200's
[2 folders]

53,300's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-63

53,400's
[2 folders]

53,500's
[2 folders]

53,600's
[2 folders]

53,700's

53,800's
[2 folders]

Box

1991/139-64

53,900's

54,000's

54,100's

54,200's

54,300's

54,400's

54,500's

54,600's

Box

1991/139-65

54,700's

54,800's

54,900's

55,000's

55,100's

55,200's

55,300's

55,400's

55,500's

55,600's

55,700's

55,800's

55,900's

56,000's

Box

1991/139-66

Opinions, October 1977 - September 1978

30,246

34,461

49,024

51,000's

52,000's

52,114

52,300's

52,430, 52,431

52,565

52,600's

52,700's

52,800's

52,900's

53,000's

53,100's

53,200's

53,300's

53,400's

53,500's

53,600's

53,700's

53,800's

53,900's

54,000's

Box

1991/139-67

54,100's

54,200's

54,300's

54,400's

54,500's

54,600's

54,700's

54,800's

54,900's

55,000's

Box

1991/139-68

55,100's

55,200's

55,300's

55,400's

55,500's

55,600's

55,700's

55,800's

55,900's

56,000's

Box

1991/139-69

56,100's

56,200's

56,300's

56,400's

56,500's

56,600's

56,700's

56,800's

56,900's

Box

1991/139-70

57,000's

57,100's

57,200's

57,300's

57,400's

57,500's

57,600's

57,700's

57,800's

57,900's

58,000's

58,100's

Box

1991/139-71

58,200's

58,300's

58,400's

58,500's

58,600's

58,700's

58,800's

58,900's

59,000's

59,100's

59,200's

59,300's

59,400's

59,500's

59,601, 59,603

Box

1991/139-72

Opinions, October 1978 - September 1979

36,192

46,583

50,857, 50,858

50,941

51,578, 51,970

52,000's

53,167, 53,186

53,310, 53,331

56,463

53,561, 53,566

53,600's

53,786

53,800's

55,200's

53,900's

54,000's

54,100's

54,200's

54,300's

54,400's

54,500's

54,600's

54,700's

54,800's

54,900's

55,000's

55,100's

Box

1991/139-73

55,300's

55,400's

55,500's

55,600's

55,700's

55,800's

55,900's

56,000's

56,100's

56,200's

Box

1991/139-74

56,300's

56,400's

56,500's

56,600's

56,700's

56,800's

56,900's

57,000's

57,100's

Box

1991/139-75

57,200's

57,300's

57,400's

57,500's

57,600's

57,700's

57,800's

57,900's

Box

1991/139-76

58,000's

58,100's

58,200's

58,300's

58,400's

58,500's

58,600's

58,700's

58,800's

58,900's

59,000's

59,100's

59,200's

59,300's

59,400's

59,500's

Box

1991/139-77

59,600's

59,700's

59,800's

59,900's

60,000's

60,100's

60,200's

60,300's

60,400's

60,500's

60,600's

Box

1991/139-78

60,700's

60,800's

60,900's

61,000's

61,100's

61,200's

61,300's

61,400's

61,500's

61,600's

61,700's

61,800's

61,900's

62,000's

62,100's

62,200's

62,300's

62,600's

62,705

Box

1991/139-79

Opinions, October 1979 - September 1980

50,412

50,613

55,916

51,116

51,871

52,466

52,812

53,146

53,679

53,713

53,890

53,939, 53,948

54,136

54,451

54,596

54,732

55,007, 55,079

55,134

55,228, 55,259

55,448, 55,466

55,586, 55,590, 55,592

55,600's

55,796, 55,797

55,811, 55,823

55,902, 55,910,

56,000's

56,100's

56,227

56,300's

56,400's

56,544

56,600's

56,747, 56,745

56,800's

56,906, 56,990

57,000's

57,102, 57,175

57,200's

57,300's

57,400's

57,500's

57,600's

57,700's

57,800's

57,900's

Box

1991/139-80

58,000's

58,100's

58,200's

58,300's

58,400's

58,500's

58,600's

58,700's

58,800's

58,900's

Box

1991/139-81

59,000's

59,100's

59,200's

59,300's

59,400's

59,500's

59,600's

59,700's

59,800's

59,900's

60,000's

60,100's

60,200's

60,300's

60,400's

60,500's

60,600's

60,700's

60,800's

60,900's

61,000's

61,100's

61,200's

Box

1991/139-82

61,300's

61,400's

61,500's

61,600's

61,700's

61,800's

61,900's

62,000's

62,100's

62,200's

62,300's

62,400's

62,500's

62,600's

Box

1991/139-83

62,700's

62,800's

62,900's

63,000's

63,100's

63,200's

63,300's

63,400's

63,500's

63,600's

63,700's

Box

1991/139-84

63,800's

63,900's

64,000's

64,100's

64,200's

64,300's

64,400's

64,500's

64,600's

64,700's

64,800's

64,900's

65,000's

65,100's

65,200's

65,300's

65,400's

65,500's

65,600's

65,739, 65,795

65,843

Box

1991/139-85

Opinions, October 1980 - September 1981

51,792

54,153

54,769

55,299

56,235, 56,236

56,400's

56,591

56,669, 56,695

56,991, 56,997

57,973

58,000's

58,100's

58,273

58,330

58,400's

58,500's

58,600's

58,700's

57,023

58,918

57,175, 57,195

57,349, 57,355

57,566

57,602, 57,628

57,765, 57,791

57,822

58,800's, 58,906,

59,000's

59,100's

59,200's

59,300's

59,400's

Box

1991/139-86

59,500's

59,600's

59,700's

59,800's

59,900's

60,000's

60,100's

60,200's

60,300's

Box

1991/139-87

60,400's

60,500's

60,600's

60,700's

60,800's

60,900's

61,000's

61,100's

61,200's

61,300's

61,400's

61,500

61,600's

61,700's

61,845

61,900's

62,000's

62,100's

62,200's

62,300's

62,400's

62,534

62,600's

62,700's

62,800's

62,900's

Box

1991/139-88

63,000's

63,100's

63,200's

63,300's

63,400's

63,500's

63,600's

63,700's

63,800's

63,926

64,000's

64,100's

64,200's

64,300's

64,400's

64.500's

64,600's

64,700's

64,800's

64,900's

65,000's

65,100's

65,200's

65,300's

65,400's

65,500's

65,600's

65,700's

Box

1991/139-89

65,800's

65,900's

66,000's

66,100's

66,200's

66,300's

66,400's

66,500's

66,600's

66,700's

66,800's

66,900's

Box

1991/139-90

67,000's

67,100's

67,200's

67,300's

67,400's

67,500's

7,600's

67,700's

67,800's

67,900's

68,000's

68,100's

68,200's

68,300's

68,400's

68,500's

68,800's

Box

1991/139-91

Opinions, October 1981 - September 1982

50-82

002-82

008-81

014-81

017-82

025-82

026-82

038-82

049-82

053-82

100-82

103-82

108-82

115-82

117-82

119-82

159-82 / 160-82

166-82

188-82 / 189-82 / 190-82

235-82

256-82

263-82

278-82

280-82

287-82

289-82

337-82

355-82

386-82

459-82

476-82

522-82

548-82

49,328

52,384

52,999

55,470

56,634

56,847 / 56,848

57,272

57,536, 57,579

57,848

58,051

58,125

58,241

58,580

58,654

58,775, 58,785

58,970

59,000's

59,213, 59,267

59,313, 59,335, 59,348

59,796

59,800's

59,944

Box

1991/139-92

60,000's

60,100's

60,200's

60,300's

60,400's

60,500's

60,600's

60,700's

60,800's

60,900's

61,000's

61,100's

61,200's

Box

1991/139-93

61,300's

61,400's

61,500's

61,600's

61,700's

61,800's

61,900's

62,000's

62,100's

Box

1991/139-94

62,200's

62,300's

62,400's

62,500's

62,600's

62,700's

62,800's

62,900's

63,000's

63,100's

63,200's

63,300's

63,400's

Box

1991/139-95

63,500's

63,600's

63,762

63,830, 63,880

63,977, 63,997

64,100's

64,200

64,326

64,406

64,500's

64,621

64,758

64,800's

64,943

65,169, 65,183

65,200's

65,300's

65,451

65,587

65,686

65,728, 65,774

65,800's

65,958, 65,997

66,000's

66,173 / 66,345

66,215, 66,248

66,318, 66,347

66,400's

66,500's

66,600's

66,700's

66,800's

66,900's

67,000's

67,100's

67,200's

67,300's

67,400's

67,500's

67,600's

67,700's

67,800's

67,900's

Box

1991/139-96

68,000's

68,100's

68,200's

68,300's

68,400's

68,500's

68,600's

68,700's

68,800's

68,900's

69,000's

Box

1991/139-97

Opinions, October 1982 - September 1983

000-00's

100-00's

200-00's

300-00's

400-00's

500-00's

600-00's

700-00's

800-00's

900-00's

1000-00's

13-82-037

0679-83

55,587

57,919

58,000's

59,000's

Box

1991/139-98

60,000's

60,100's

60,200's

60,300's

60,400's

60,500's

60,600's

60,700's

60,800's

60,900's

61,000's

61,100's

61,200's

61,300's

61,400's

61,500's

61,600's

61,700's

61,800's

61,900's

62,000's

62,100's

62,200's

62,300's

62,400's

62,500's

62,600's

62,700's

62,800's

62,900's

Box

1991/139-99

63,000's

63,100's

63,200's

63,300's

63,400's

63,500's

63,600's

63,700's

63,800's

63,900's

64,000's

64,100's

64,200's

64,300's

64,400's

64,500's

64,600's

64,700's

64,800's

64,900's

Box

1991/139-100

65,000's

65,100's

65,200's

65,300's

65,400's

65,500's

65,600's

65,700's

65,800's

65,900's

66,000's

66,100's

66,200's

66,300's

66,400's

66,500's

66,600's

66,700's

66,800's

66,900's

67,000's

67,100's

67,200's

67,300's

67,446

67,500's

67,600's

67,700's

67,800's

67,900's

Box

1991/139-101

004-83

68,000's

68,100's

68,200's

68,300's

68,400's

68,500's

68,600's

68,700's

68,800's

68,900's

Box

1991/139-102

69,000's
[2 folders]

Opinions, October 1983 - September 1984

(Please note: Records present for the 1983 portion of this term only.)

000-00's

100-00's

200-00's

300-00's

400-00's

505-83

600-00's

700-00's

800-00's

900-00's

0000-00's

1000-00's

58,605

60,130

60,872

60,996

61,060

61,396

62,067 / 62,068

62,417, 62,425

62,562, 62,598

62,626

62,752

63,004

Box

1991/139-103

63,200's

63,300's

63,400's

63,500's

63,600's

63,700's

63,800's

63,900's

64,000's

64,126, 64,134

64,355, 64,367

64,405

64,655

64,970

65,000

65,164

65,751

65,821

65,911

66,036

66,131

66,301

66,696

66,708

66,966

67,064

67,196

67,294

67,322

67,451, 67,452

68,000's

68,100's

68,208, 68,253

68,300's

68,400's

68,500's

68,600's

68,700's

68,800's

69,100's

69,200's

Laws, 65th Legislature, 1978
[pamphlet]

Opinion registers, 1921-1954,
0.34 cubic ft. (5 volumes)

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically. Within each volume arrangement by the creator is usually chronological; one opinion register is alphabetical by county, and the index is alphabetical by name of appellant.

Volume

211-132

Docket of Cases Written by Judge W. C. Morrow since January 1921

Volume

211-135

Opinions by Judge W. C. Morrow since January 1921

[alphabetical by county]

Volume

211-133

Index of Cases Decided by Judge W. C. Morrow since October 1, 1932

[alphabetical by appellant]

Volume

211-131

Opinions by Judges George Calhoun and C. G. Krueger (1927-1933) and (1933-1935), 1927-1935

Volume

211-130

Opinions Written by [Cases Decided by] Judge H. N. Graves, October 29, 1937-December 31, 1954

Return to the Table of Contents

Orders, 1953-1972,
0.5 cubic ft.

Arrangement

These records were arranged by the creator in reverse numerical order, by application number.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Orders, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Accession Information

Accession number: 1991/139

Processed by

Lisa M. Hendricks, February 1992

Box

1991/139-104

No. 3672 - No. 805

No. 799 - No. 516

No. 575 - No. 351

No. 350 - No. 176

No. 175 - No. 1

Return to the Table of Contents

Dockets, 1892-1925,
8.29 cubic ft. (38 volumes)

Organization

These records have been organized by State Archives staff into four subseries:

Assignment dockets, 1892-1909, 4 cubic ft. (21 volumes)

Dockets, 1908-1913, 1916-1925, 2.51 cubic ft. (8 volumes)

Execution dockets, 1893-1909, 0.28 cubic ft. (2 volumes)

Assistant Attorney General's dockets, 1895-1905, 1.5 cubic ft. (7 volumes)

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Dockets, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Accession Information

Accession number: 1993/088

Processed by

Tony Black, August 1993

Assignment dockets, 1892-1909,
4 cubic ft. (21 volumes)

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). These records document the docketing activities of the court. They consist of 21 assignment dockets, volumes dating 1892 through 1909, which include the following information: docket number, attorneys, parties (i.e., style), county, crime (usually specific if a felony, otherwise simply whether a felony or misdemeanor), sentence (usually, if a felony), date filed, orders of the former term, and orders of the present term. These last two columns provide a case history (e.g., "Mandate 6/29/1900. May 16, 1900: Submitted on brief for appellant (776); May 23, 1900: Reversed and remanded. Opinion by Davidson, P.J. (783).") Separate dockets were maintained until 1909 for each of the three terms of the court: Tyler (4 volumes), Dallas (5 volumes), and Austin (12 volumes). Many years are not represented, especially in the Tyler and Dallas terms; the extant dockets represent less than one-half of the total possible. Three of the dockets have separate indexes (all for the Austin term, 1896, 1905, and 1908).

Note: an "assignment" was a two week period within a term during which appeals were heard from one particular geographical area; the fifth assignment was reserved for cases transferred from other branches of the court, and for felony cases sent directly from counties not named in preceding assignments. With the centralization of the Court in Austin, 1909, the assignment system was abolished.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff by term, and therein chronologically. Arrangement by the creator within each docket volume is by assignment (1st through 5th), and then numerical within each assignment.

Volume

211-040

Tyler Term (1892-1909)

Tyler Term, 1892, #1-595, October 4, 1892-December 22 1892

Volume

211-043

Tyler Term, 1898, #1620-1965, January-December 28, 1898)

Volume

211-061

Tyler Term, 1899, #1865-2200, September 26, 1898-February 8, 1900

Volume

211-062

Tyler Term, 1905, #3101-3389, May 15, 1905-December 23, 1905

Volume

211-041

Dallas Term (1893-1909)

Dallas Term, vol. 2, #81-466, January 2, 1893-March 28, 1894

Volume

211-042

Dallas Term, vol. 3, 1895, #81-758, January 2, 1893-July 27, 1895

Volume

211-049

Dallas Term, vol. 5, 1897, #263-1332, December 14, 1893-March 8, 1897

Volume

211-046

Dallas Term, 1902, #2500-2757, March 29, 1902-March 25, 1903

Volume

211-052

Dallas Term, 1908, #3978-4353, April 15, 1907-March 16, 1908

Volume

211-073

Austin Term (1892-1909)

Austin, April Term, 1894, #212-541, May 24, 1893-September 23, 1894

Volume

211-064

Austin, April Term, 1896, #547-1109, December 5, 1895-August 25, 1896

[index = 211-084]

Volume

211-044

Austin, April Term, 1898, #548-1864, December 15, 1895-December 15, 1898)

Volume

211-045

Austin, April Term, 1899, #548-1864, December 15, 1895-December 22, 1899)

Volume

211-118

Austin, April Term, 1900, #1836-2066, June 26, 1899-December 1, 1900

Volume

211-112

Austin, April Term, 1901, #2058-2263, August 30, 1890-November 9, 1901)

[spine erroneously says Court of Civil Appeals]

Volume

211-117

Austin, April Term, 1902, #2248-2448, July 27, 1901-September 20, 1902

Volume

211-047

Austin, April Term, 1903, #2428-2665, July 11, 1902-December 2, 1903

Volume

211-048

Austin, April Term, 1905, #2843-3105, June 28, 1904-December 27, 1905

[index = 211-085]

Volume

211-050

Austin, April Term, 1907, #3371-3695, July 21, 1906-December 2, 1907

Volume

211-051

Austin, April Term, 1908, #3631-3970, July 11, 1907-December 7, 1908

[index = 211-125]

Volume

211-053

Austin, April Term, 1909, #3952-4329, August 28, 1908-July 16, 1909

Dockets, 1908-1913, 1916-1925,
2.51 cubic ft. (8 volumes)

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). These records document the docketing activities of the court. They consist of eight dockets, volumes covering Cases 1 thru 2712, and 4336 thru 9849 (1908-1913 and 1916-1925). They contain the same information, in the same format, as the assignment dockets: docket number, attorneys, parties (i.e., style), county, crime (if a felony, otherwise simply "misdemeanor"), sentence, date filed, orders of the former term, and orders of the present term. These dockets cover the first two decades of the centralized period of the Court of Criminal Appeals (beginning with the 1909 term which started in October, but including cases which had been filed as early as September 1908, and extending through October 3, 1925). There appears to be only one gap, namely between October 1913 and December 19, 1916 (Cases Number 2713 thru 4335). Each docket volume contains an index.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically, which is also numerically by docket number. Arrangement by the creator within each volume is strictly numerical by docket number.

Volume

211-063

Cases 1-1356 (September 7, 1908-July 1, 1911)

Volume

211-065

Cases 1357-2712 (July 3, 1911-July 31, 1913)

Volume

211-066

Cases 4336-5157 (December 20, 1916-August 5, 1918)

Volume

211-067

Cases 5158-5997 (August 6, 1918-September 16, 1920)

Volume

211-068

Cases 5998-6651 (September 16, 1920-October 24, 1921)

Volume

211-069

Cases 6652-7803 (October 22, 1921-April 7, 1923)

Volume

211-070

Cases 7804-9009 (April 7, 1923-September 19, 1924)

Volume

211-071

Cases 9010-9849 (September 20, 1924-October 3, 1925)

Execution dockets, 1893-1909,
0.28 cubic ft. (2 volumes)

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff by term. Arrangement by the creator within each volume is numerical by docket number, which is also chronological.

Volume

211-072

Dallas Branch, #1-439, and #1950-2408, 1893-1894, 1900-1902

[with index]

Volume

211-122

Austin, #52-4264, 1893-1909

Assistant Attorney General's dockets, 1895-1905,
1.5 cubic ft. (7 volumes)

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff by term, and therein chronologically. Arrangement by the creator within each volume is numerical by docket number, which is also chronological.

Volume

211-056

Tyler Term, 1897
[extremely deteriorated]

Volume

211-060

Dallas Term, 1905

Volume

211-055

Austin Term, 1895

Volume

211-054

Austin Term, 1897

Volume

211-057

Austin Term, 1899

Volume

211-058

Austin Term, 1901

Volume

211-059

Austin Term, 1903

Return to the Table of Contents

Indexes, 1892-1947,
2.29 cubic ft. (7 volumes)

The General Indexes for the Tyler term (Cases #1 thru 4218) and the Dallas term (Cases #1 thru 4668), each covering the entire period of their existence, 1892-1909, give the following information: appellant vs. appellee, primitive number, final number, volume of opinion record, and page.

There is one General Index, 1876-1920, which covers:

the earlier Court of Appeals (1876-1892),
the Austin term of the Court of Criminal Appeals (1892-1909), and
the centralized Court of Criminal Appeals (1909-1920).

This index gives the following information: appellant, appellee, county, how disposed of (e.g. "R[eversed],""R[eversed] & R[emanded],""Aff[irmed]"), opinion by, record (e.g. J531, L66, N180, etc.), and [page?] number. Beginning with 1909 (which starts the centralized period of the Court of Criminal Appeals), this same index adds Docket Numbers in the "appellee" column (Cases #1-5607). The major disadvantages of this index are the lack of distinction between Court of Appeals and Court of Criminal Appeals cases (since no dates are given), and the lack of docket numbers for cases until 1909.

Another General Index covers the centralized period, from October 1919 thru September 1947 [Cases #5567-23, 907]. Information given in this index includes: number, appellant, county, how disposed of, opinion by, record, and number.

Finally, there are three indexes to dockets for the Court of Criminal Appeals, all for the Austin term, dated 1896, 1905, and 1908. All three have been identified as to which docket they pertain. The information these indexes provide includes number, parties, county, and page number.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff by type of index, then by term if applicable, and then roughly chronologically. Each index was arranged by the creator roughly alphabetically by the last name of the appellant.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Indexes, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Accession Information

Accession number: 1993/088

Processed by

Tony Black, August 1993

Volume

211-087

General Indexes, 1892-1909

General Index, Tyler, [#1-4218], 1892-1909

Volume

211-086

General Index, Dallas, vol. 1, [#1-4668], 1892-1909

Volume

211-025

General Index, Austin, [no case numbers], 1892-1909

General Indexes, Centralized period, 1909-1947

General Index, [ Cases #1-5607], 1909-1920

Volume

211-088

General Index, [Cases #5567-23, 907], October 1, 1919-September 1947

Volume

211-084

Indexes to Dockets, 1896-1908

Index to Docket, [Austin], 1896

[to Volume 211-064]

Volume

211-085

Index to Docket, [Austin], 1905

[to Volume 211-048]

Volume

211-125

Index to Docket, [Austin], 1908

[to Volume 211-051]

Return to the Table of Contents

Accounting records, 1893-1944,
1.26 cubic ft. (9 volumes)

The Attorney's Receipts for Transcript and Papers, Dallas term (1893-1906), contains the following information: number of case, number of papers, style of case, name of attorney receiving the papers, when received, and when returned.

There is a General volume, with index, dated 1896 giving cash accounts.

There are two Fee Books, one for Dallas (1907-1909) and one for Austin (1909-1913), which give the following information: number, parties and county, mandate (when issued and to whom delivered), execution (when issued and to whom sent), bill of costs, and remarks.

A Collections Book (1909-1923) contains the following information: date, number, style, fees clerk of court, costs Attorney General, total, miscellaneous. The collections are mostly for "copy opinions."

There are three Appropriations books (1917-1942).

Finally, there is part of a volume which includes an Inventory of State Property, Court of Criminal Appeals, dated September 1944.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff roughly chronologically. Arrangement by the creator within each volume is also chronological.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Accounting records, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Accession Information

Accession number: 1993/088

Processed by

Tony Black, August 1993

Volume

211-039

Attorney's Receipts for Transcript and Papers, Dallas, Vol. 1, January 2, 1893-September 27, 1906

Volume

211-089

General volume, Cash/accounts, 1896

[with index]

Volume

211-075

Fee Book, Dallas, February 7, 1907-June 11, 1909

Volume

211-076

Fee Book, Austin, Number 3, October 11, 1909-May 2, 1913

Volume

211-115

Collections, June 14, 1909-August 1923

Volume

211-090

Appropriations, September 1917-August 1923

Volume

211-091

Appropriations, April 1925-August 1932

Volume

211-128

Appropriations, 1932-1942

Volume

211-024

Inventory of State Property, Court of Criminal Appeals, September 1944

Return to the Table of Contents

Lists of appealed and referred cases, 1913-1934,
1.54 cubic ft.

The first type is a volume, a Clerk's Record listing cases filed between January 1913 and January 1923. Information in this volume includes style of case (actually, name of the Appellee), county, offense, date of appeal, date of filing certificate, date of filing record, and remarks.

The second type are certified lists of appealed cases, 1916-1921, filed by county and district clerks with the clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals. These loose reports include the style of the case, the offense, the date of judgment, and the date of the notice of appeal.

The third type of lists are compiled into a volume (some entered, some simply stapled to a page), and comprise lists of cases referred or transferred by the "Commission in Aid of the the Court of Criminal Appeals," 1925-1934. Information on these lists includes case number, name of appellant, and county.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff roughly chronologically. Arrangement by the creator within the first volume is chronological by the date of filing the certificate. Certified lists of appealed cases are filed by the creator alphabetically by the name of the county.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Lists of appealed and referred cases, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Accession Information

Accession number: 1993/088

Processed by

Tony Black, August 1993

Volume

211-114

Clerk's Record, January 12, 1913-January 22, 1923

Box

1993/088-3286

Certified Lists of Appealed Cases, Counties A thru G 1916-1921,

Box

1993/088-3287

Certified Lists of Appealed Cases, Counties H thru W 1916-1921,

Volume

211-024

Lists of Cases Referred to Commission of Appeals, 1925-1934

Return to the Table of Contents

Correspondence, 1896-1917, 1951-1953,
1.27 cubic ft.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). A clerk is appointed to handle administrative duties relating to the court's functions. These records document some of the activities of the court clerk. They consist of correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, with two clerks of the Court of Criminal Appeals, widely separated by time: E. P. Smith (1896-1917), and Glenn Haynes (1951-1953). In both groups, some of the letters refer to specific cases heard by the court, and are to and from attorneys, district clerks, U.S. district attorneys, etc. The remainder of the letters in both groups concern relatively routine housekeeping matters, and are to and from banks, publishers, and other private firms. Correspondence from 1952-1953 is between the clerk and West Publishing Company. These letters involve specific cases, and include lists of motions for rehearing without written opinions, requests for editorial corrections, etc.

Besides the loose correspondence, there are two letterpress books, which contain copies of letters sent by E. P. Smith, 1905-1911, mainly concerning moneys owed and received for court costs (i.e., "execution.")

As a whole these letters are valuable chiefly as samples of the typical business conducted by the Clerk of the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff roughly chronologically. Within each letterpress book arrangement by the creator is chronological.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Correspondence, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Technical Requirements

Letterpress books are extremely fragile; pages are tissue-thin and bindings are either broken already or ready to break. Therefore they may not be photocopied, and must be treated with great care.

Accession Information

Accession number: 1993/088

Processed by

Tony Black, August 1993

Box

1993/088-3288

Correspondence, E. P. Smith (Clerk of Court of Criminal Appeals), A thru E, 1896-1917

Payroll of officers and employees of Court of Criminal Appeals, July 1917

Volume

211-092

Letterpress Book, E. P. Smith, June 2, 1905-July 29, 1908

Volume

211-129

Letterpress Book, E. P. Smith, August 10, 1908-July 19, 1911

Box

1993/088-3289

Correspondence, Glenn Haynes (Clerk of Court of Criminal Appeals), 1951

Correspondence with West Publishing, Glenn Haynes (Clerk of Court of Criminal Appeals), 1952-1953

Return to the Table of Contents

Press releases, 1971, 1977-1979, 1983-1988, 1990-1991, 1993,
fractional

Arrangement

These records are arranged by State Archives staff in reverse chronological order.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Press releases, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 2006/156

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Legislative Reference Library on January 26, 2006.

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Processed by

Tony Black, December 2008

Box

2006 Accessions Box 3 (2006/156)

Press releases, 1971, 1977-1979, 1983-1988, 1990-1991, 1993

Return to the Table of Contents

Case files, 1892-1988,
5,512.58 cubic ft.

A significant gap in the case files exists, between 1899 (Case #1699) and 1908 (Case #4668?). Only about eighteen cases are extant for this period, with only nine of any size. These are retained at the Archives rather than being stored off-site.

Two numbering systems existed for the case files: one for the period of the three geographically distinct terms (1892-1909), and one for the period of the centralized court (1909-1975). During the first period (1892-1909), each term (Tyler, Dallas, and Austin) maintained separate numbers for their cases; consequently, the same case number may be used for up to three different cases, requiring the researcher to specify which term he desires for that case (e.g. #889 Dallas). Beginning with the second period (starting October 1909), that of the centralized court, only one numbering system is used.

The dockets (assignment dockets before 1909) provide one way (if the researcher knows the year) of determining the numbers assigned to the cases heard between 1892 and 1925, although there are many gaps. Another way to determine the number of a case, especially if the researcher only knows the appellant's name, is through the general indexes (for the Tyler and Dallas terms before 1909, and for all cases between 1909 and 1947). Of course probably a better, quicker, and surer means of discovering the number is through the published Texas Criminal Reports, which has an alphabetical table of contents at the beginning of each volume.

[Note that Centralized court case files numbers 2 thru 25006, 1909-1950 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/50104/tsl-50104.html), Centralized court case files number 25007 thru 49719, 1950-1975 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/50105/tsl-50105.html), and Centralized court case files number 49720 thru 70736, 1975-1988 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/30190/tsl-30190.html), are listed separately online and appear at the end of the printed finding aid in the Archives Reading Room.]

Note: Most of these records are stored at the State Records Center. Records requested before 10:00 a.m. will usually be available for review by an archivist by 4:00 p.m. the same day. Records requested after 10:00 a.m. and before 3:00 p.m will usually be available for review by an archivist by noon the next day. See the restrictions on access statement in this document for further information. A list of case numbers for missing case files follows, which the researcher should check before requesting that a case file be retrieved from the Texas State Library's State Records Center. Also important to check is the list of cases retained at the Archives Division (following the list of missing cases); these include the appeals for Jack Ruby and Billie Sol Estes, plus those for the period of missing cases (1899-1909), plus several others.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff numerically, which is to say roughly chronologically in the order that the cases were filed with the court.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Case files, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Case files may possibly contain documents sealed by the court according to Texas Public Information Act, 552.107(2). When a researcher requests a case, the file will be reviewed by an archivist in order to remove sealed documents. The researcher will be informed that sealed documents have been removed from the file and it will then be up to the researcher to obtain permission from the Court to access the documents.

Case files may possibly contain personal information of jurors and prospective jurors. According to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 35.29, information collected by the court or by a prosecuting attorney during the jury selection process about a person who serves as a juror, including the juror's home address, home telephone number, social security number, driver's license number, and other personal information, is confidential and may not be disclosed by the court, the prosecuting attorney, the defense counsel, or any court personnel except on application by a party in the trial or on application by a bona fide member of the news media acting in such capacity to the court in which the person is serving or did serve as a juror. On a showing of good cause, the court shall permit disclosure of the information sought. (Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 371, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993) The Court of Criminal Appeals has verified that juror information is to be withheld from the public according to the statute cited above. Therefore, when a case is requested, an archivist will review the case to ascertain whether or not juror information is present. If such information is found, the researcher will be informed and the documents will be removed from the file. If an individual wishes to access juror information, they will have to obtain permission from the Court. Because the judiciary is not covered by the Texas Public Information Act, the Archives cannot estimate how long it will take the Court to respond to a request.

Non-court documents may possibly be found in the Case files. Before a researcher is granted access to a case, an archivist will review the files and remove all such materials. The researcher will be informed if materials are removed. If the researcher wishes to access the documents, the Archives will contact the Court to determine the appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis. Because the judiciary is not covered by the Texas Public Information Act, the Archives cannot estimate how long it will take the Court to respond to a request.

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1993/088, 2006/074, 2010/139

Processed by

Tony Black, August 1993, December 2008, October 2010

Box

1993/088-1

Case files, 1892-1909

1 thru 64

[Note: Case #1 (Dallas) is stored on site at the State Archives, in Box 1993/088-3296]

Box

1993/088-2

66 thru 85

Box

1993/088-3

86 thru 107

Box

1993/088-4

108 thru 130

Box

1993/088-5

131 thru 152

Box

1993/088-6

153 thru 183

Box

1993/088-7

184 thru 207

Box

1993/088-8

208 thru 230

Box

1993/088-9

231 thru 259

Box

1993/088-10

260 thru 334

Box

1993/088-11

335 thru 353

Box

1993/088-12

356 thru 374

Box

1993/088-13

375 thru 389

Box

1993/088-14

391 thru 402

Box

1993/088-15

403 thru 434

Box

1993/088-16

435 thru 467

Box

1993/088-17

472 and 495

Box

1993/088-18

496 and 529

Box

1993/088-19

530 and 594

Box

1993/088-20

596 thru 635

Box

1993/088-21

636 thru 655

Box

1993/088-22

657 thru 672

Box

1993/088-23

674 thru 695

Box

1993/088-24

699 thru 730

Box

1993/088-25

734 thru 769

[Note: Case # 746 is stored on site at the State Archives, in Box 1993/088-3296]

Box

1993/088-26

770 thru 793

Box

1993/088-27

794 thru 807

Box

1993/088-28

808 thru 828

Box

1993/088-29

829 thru 850

Box

1993/088-30

853 thru 883

Box

1993/088-31

883 thru 901

Box

1993/088-32

902 thru 920

Box

1993/088-33

921 thru 937

Box

1993/088-34

938 thru 960

Box

1993/088-35

961 thru 982

Box

1993/088-36

983 thru 1019

Box

1993/088-37

1022 thru 1068

Box

1993/088-38

1069 thru 1099

Box

1993/088-39

1100 thru 1132

Box

1993/088-40

1134 thru 1159

Box

1993/088-41

1161 thru 1182

Box

1993/088-42

1183 thru 1200

Box

1993/088-43

1201 thru 1223

Box

1993/088-44

1224 thru 1256

Box

1993/088-45

1257 thru 1282

Box

1993/088-46

1283 thru 1329

Box

1993/088-47

1330 thru 1372

Box

1993/088-48

1375 thru 1413

Box

1993/088-49

1416 thru 1439

Box

1993/088-50

1441 thru 1482

Box

1993/088-51

1483 thru 1526

Box

1993/088-52

1528 thru 1562

Box

1993/088-53

1565 thru 1597

Box

1993/088-54

1601 thru 1643

Box

1993/088-55

1644 thru 1698

[Note: a number of cases following 1698 have been retained on site at the State Archives, in Box 1993/088-3296; see the list below for precise case file numbers.]

Box

1993/088-3296

Court of Criminal Appeals Case Files Retained at the Archives Division, 1892-1909

Case #1 (Dallas) Dan Foreman, 1892

Case #746 (Dallas) William King, 1895

Case #1711 (Dallas) G. W. Caskey, 1898

Case #1741 (Tyler) Bill Alexander, 1898

Case #1834 (Tyler) Louis Luttrell, 1898

Case #1851 (Austin) John H. Gregory, 1898

Case #1864 (Dallas) Tom Bullard, 1899

Case #1883 (Dallas) J. B. Warfield, 1899

Case #2481 (Dallas) Tom Duffy, 1902

Case #2491 (Dallas) Charlie Alexander, 1902

Case #3151 (Dallas) Lee Arnwine, 1906

Case #3172 (Dallas) Teofilo Campas, 1906

Case #3183 (Dallas) J. C. Mundine, 1906

Case #3185 (Dallas) Jack Early, 1906

Case #3230 (Dallas) Charley Stephens, 1906

Case #3238 (Dallas) Dr. C. C. Blair, 1906

Case #3264 (Dallas) J. D. King, 1906

Case #3614 (Dallas) Henry Patterson, 1906

Case #3851 (Tyler) J. R. Green, 1907

Case #4583 (Dallas) W. E. Bowmer, 1909

Missing Case Files from Court of Criminal Appeals, 1892-1909

Missing case files from 1892 to 1909 have only been listed if the case file number is missing from each of the three terms discussed above. Cases missing from only one or two of the terms have not been included in the list. Therefore, the researcher should not assume that a case exists simply because it has not been listed below.

11 thru 12
19
22
24
27 thru 35
37 thru 49
51 thru 55
57 thru 60
62 thru 63
65
67 thru 69
71
73 thru 74
89 thru 91
96
113
122
124
127
133
140 thru 142
145 thru 146
158
160
162
168 thru 170
172
178
180
196
198 thru 200
203
205
210
232
248
253 thru 254
263
266
270 thru 317
324
327
340
346
349
351
354 thru 355
366
373
384
390
392
407 thru 408
414 thru 415
419 thru 420
423
430 thru 431
433
437
441 thru 443
449 thru 450
454
456 thru 457
464 thru 465
468 thru 471
473
477
480 thru 482
484
492 thru 494
514
520 thru 521
523 thru 532
534
540 thru 565
567 thru 575
577 thru 585
587
590
593
595
598
600 thru 606
610
614 thru 619
621
623 thru 625
627 thru 628
639
652
654
656
673
688
690
696 thru 698
702
705 thru 707
713
716
720 thru 721
731 thru 733
741
743
745
748 thru 749
751 thru 753
755 thru 756
761
774
786
793
798
826
842
846
851 thru 852
855 thru 856
860 thru 861
863 thru 864
867 thru 868
872 thru 873
876 thru 879
895 thru 896
904
906
911
918
924
927
930
935
939
946
962 thru 964
969 thru 970
972
986
991
1,000 thru 1,001
1,003
1,005
1,008 thru 1,009
1,013
1,016 thru 1,017
1,020 thru 1,021
1,024 thru 1,027
1,032 thru 1,033
1,035
1,037 thru 1,038
1,047
1,052 thru 1,056
1,060
1,071
1,076
1,080
1,089
1,092
1,094
1,106
1,112
1,114
1,116 thru 1,117
1,131
1,133
1,141
1,148
1,154
1,157
1,160
1,166
1,168
1,172 thru 1,177
1,180
1,184
1,191
1,204
1,207
1,213
1,218
1,220
1,225
1,232
1,241
1,248
1,255
1,260
1,271
1,277
1,284
1,287 thru 1,288
1,298 thru 1,299
1,301 thru 1,304
1,314 thru 1,317
1,320 thru 1,321
1,323 thru 1,325
1,332 thru 1,336
1,339 thru 1,340
1,342
1,347
1,351 thru 1,352
1,357 thru 1,362
1,366
1,369
1,371
1,373 thru 1,374
1,379
1,384
1,388 thru 1,389
1,393 thru 1,395
1,404
1,406
1,414 thru 1,415
1,425 thru 1,427
1,430 thru 1,431
1,433
1,436
1,440
1,443 thru 1,446
1,448 thru 1,450
1,452
1,456 thru 1,457
1,459 thru 1,464
1,466
1,468
1,472 thru 1,473
1,490
1,495 thru 1,496
1,503 thru 1,505
1,509 thru 1,510
1,512
1,518
1,520
1,527
1,530
1,534 thru 1,535
1,540
1,544
1,549
1,556
1,563 thru 1,564
1,567 thru 1,568
1,580
1,598 thru 1,600
1,604
1,606
1,609
1,611
1,615 thru 1,617
1,620
1,622
1,624
1,627
1,637 thru 1,639
1,642
1,645 thru 1,646
1,648
1,650 thru 1,655
1,657 thru 1,659
1,661 thru 1,667
1,671 thru 1,673
1,675 thru 1,676
1,683
1,685
1,688 thru 1,689
1,692 thru 1,695
1,697
1,699 thru 4,668 [except for 18 cases retained at Archives--see list in this inventory]

Centralized Court Case Files, 1909-1988

[Note that Centralized court case files numbers 2 thru 25006, 1909-1950 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/50104/tsl-50104.html), numbers 25007 thru 49719, 1950-1975 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/50105/tsl-50105.html), and numbers 49720 thru 70736, 1975-1988 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/30190/tsl-30190.html), are listed separately online and appear at the end of the printed finding aid in the Archives Reading Room.]

Court of Criminal Appeals Case Files Retained at the Archives Division, 1909-1975

Box

1993/088-3289

Case #2044 Henry Brock, 1912

Oversize

1993/088-3297

Case #27948 Tommy Windham, 1955
[part, oversize]

Oversize

1993/088-3298

Case #28776 B. R. Sheffield (exhibits), 1959
[oversize]

Oversize

1993/088-3297

Case #31770 A. M. Vernon, 1960
[part, oversize]

Box

1993/088-3294 and 3295

Case #36086 Billie Sol Estes, 1963

Box

1993/088-3291 thru 3293

Case #37900 Jack Rubenstein, alias Jack Ruby, 1966

Box

1993/088-3290

Case #39613 Jack Ruby, ex parte, 1966

Box

1993/088-3295

Case #40966 Kenneth Allen McDuff, 1967

Box

2006/074

Case #45104 William Zanders, 1971-1972
[2 wallets]

Case #49090 William Zanders, 1975
[1 wallet]

Missing Case Files from Court of Criminal Appeals, 1909-1975

1
3 thru 4
6
8 thru 14
16 thru 20
25 thru 28
30 thru 31
38 thru 44
47 thru 54
58 thru 61
63 thru 68
70
72 thru 81
84 thru 107
109
111 thru 113
115
117 thru 122
124 thru 126
129 thru 132
134
136 thru 137
140 thru 146
151
153 thru 156
159 thru 161
164 thru 167
169 thru 179
182 thru 192
195
203 thru 212
214
216
218 thru 219
221 thru 223
228 thru 232
236
239 thru 240
242
244 thru 248
250
252
256
258 thru 264
267
271
278
282
285 thru 286
297
310
315 thru 316
322
349
366 thru 367
372
430
509
855
1,115
1,162
1,690
2,044
2,312
2,679
3,291 thru 3,318
3,320
3,736
4,344
4,821
4,974
5,202
5,252
5,900
5,991
6,090
6,104
6,530
6,541
6,632
6,830
6,852
7,254
7,312
7,324
7,374
7,412
7,449
7,616
7,771
7,968
8,019
8,067
8,458
8,486
8,635
9,090 Vols. I, II, III & V found
9,294
9,768
10,342
10,455
10,560
11,436
11,447
11,679
14,115
15,180
15,588
15,925
16,114
16,444
16,800
17,113
17,296
17,315
17,524
17,777
17,884
17,958
17,963
18,080
18,218
18,221 thru 18,222
18,440
18,856
22,185
24,387
24,388
24,434
25,413
25,468
31,138
32,005
33,826
35,995 thru 36,019
36,981
38,910
39,902
40,766
41,837
43,658
44,081
46,203
46,546
46,612
47,956
49,396
49,579

Return to the Table of Contents

Petitions for discretionary review files, 1981-1988,
243 cubic ft.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). These records consist of case files resulting from petitions for discretionary review, containing copies of documents filed with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals--the district clerk's file (indictments, pleas of the defendant, bills of exception, assignments of error, charges of the court, verdicts and judgments, motions, orders, briefs, sentences, etc.) and statements of fact (the trial transcripts of pre-trial hearings, voir dire of prospective jurors, the guilt/innocence phase, the punishment phase, and exhibits)--as well as documents created for or by the Court of Criminal Appeals (motions, briefs, arguments, orders, opinions, etc.), dating 1981-1988.

Petitions for discretionary review request the Court of Criminal Appeals to review the rulings of the intermediary Courts of Appeals; if the Court grants the petition, it issues an opinion. These are generally cases where the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed or reversed the judgment of the court of appeals without remanding the case back to that court of appeals. See Rules 66-69 of the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure (http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/rules/TRAP/trap-all.htm), accessed October 25, 2010.

If a researcher only knows the appellant's name, but not the case number, for a petition for discretionary review (PDR), the researcher should contact the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Cases filed with the Court of Criminal Appeals after mid-1984 may be searched on the agency's website, at http://www.cca.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/casesearch.asp (accessed October 25, 2010), which will hopefully yield a case number and other pertinent information. For PDRs between 1981 and 1984, docket sheets have been scanned by the court, and archives staff has been provided with a compact disc of those scans and will assist researchers in locating case numbers.

Arrangement

These records are arranged by creating agency staff numerically by case file number, which is roughly chronologically. The second part of the case file number (following the dash) indicates the year.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Petitions for discretionary review files, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 2010/140

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on August 10, 2010.

Restrictions on Access

Petitions for discretionary review files may possibly contain documents sealed by the court according to Texas Public Information Act, 552.107(2). When a researcher requests a case, the file will be reviewed by an archivist in order to remove sealed documents. The researcher will be informed that sealed documents have been removed from the file and it will then be up to the researcher to obtain permission from the Court to access the documents.

Petitions for discretionary review files may possibly contain personal information of jurors and prospective jurors. According to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 35.29, information collected by the court or by a prosecuting attorney during the jury selection process about a person who serves as a juror, including the juror's home address, home telephone number, social security number, driver's license number, and other personal information, is confidential and may not be disclosed by the court, the prosecuting attorney, the defense counsel, or any court personnel except on application by a party in the trial or on application by a bona fide member of the news media acting in such capacity to the court in which the person is serving or did serve as a juror. On a showing of good cause, the court shall permit disclosure of the information sought. (Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 371, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993) The Court of Criminal Appeals has verified that juror information is to be withheld from the public according to the statute cited above. Therefore, when a case is requested, an archivist will review the case to ascertain whether or not juror information is present. If such information is found, the researcher will be informed and the documents will be removed from the file. If an individual wishes to access juror information, they will have to obtain permission from the Court. Because the judiciary is not covered by the Texas Public Information Act, the Archives cannot estimate how long it will take the Court to respond to a request.

Non-court documents may possibly be found in the Petitions for discretionary review files. Before a researcher is granted access to a case, an archivist will review the files and remove all such materials. The researcher will be informed if materials are removed. If the researcher wishes to access the documents, the Archives will contact the Court to determine the appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis. Because the judiciary is not covered by the Texas Public Information Act, the Archives cannot estimate how long it will take the Court to respond to a request.

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas by staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Technical Requirements

For PDRs between 1981 and 1984, docket sheets have been scanned by the court, and archives staff has been provided with a compact disc of those scans and will assist researchers in locating case numbers.

Processed by

Tony Black, October 2010

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File numbers 15-81 thru 26-82

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File numbers 169-82 thru 211-82

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File numbers 224-82 thru 244-82

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File numbers 250-82 thru 259-82

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File numbers 260-82 thru 290-82

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File numbers 293-82 thru 308-82

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File numbers 311-82 thru 333-82

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File numbers 336-82 thru 401-82

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File numbers 402-82 thru 448-82

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File numbers 793-82 thru 802-82

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File numbers 806-82 thru 821-82

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File numbers 076-83 (part) thru 077-83

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2010/139-59

File numbers 084-83 thru 103-83

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2010/139-60

File numbers 105-83 thru 119-83

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2010/139-61

File numbers 123-83 thru 127-83

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2010/139-62

File numbers 132-83 thru 134-83

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File numbers 143-83 thru 153-83

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File numbers 157-83 thru 166-83

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File numbers 167-83 thru 177-83

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File numbers 179-83 thru 180-83

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File numbers 181-83 thru 212-83

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File numbers 213-83 thru 230-83 (part)

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File numbers 274-83 thru 312-83

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File numbers 313-83 thru 316-83

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File numbers 317-83 thru 332-83

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File numbers 337-83 thru 351-83 (part)

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File numbers 364-83 (part) thru 389-83

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File numbers 412-83 thru 496-83

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File numbers 497-83 thru 502-83 (part)

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File numbers 603-83 thru 620-83

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File numbers 157-84 thru 189-84

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File numbers 371-84 thru 405-84

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2010/139-131

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File numbers 485-85 thru 547-85

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File number 1255-85

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Return to the Table of Contents

Execution case files, 1974-2010,
1,141.75 cubic ft.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in the state, holding the same position in the area of state criminal law that the Supreme Court holds in civil law. The Court of Criminal Appeals has appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases (both felonies and misdemeanors). The appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Criminal Appeals is exclusive for cases involving the death penalty and the appeals process in such cases is automatic. These records provide the fullest documentation of those capital cases, each of which ended in the execution of the prisoner (1993-2010). Records include grand jury, hearing, trial, and voir dire examination transcripts, briefs, copies of exhibits, statements, correspondence, memoranda, opinions, motions, death warrants, indexes, juror questionnaires, post-conviction writs of habeas corpus, photographs, videotapes, audio cassettes, floppy discs, and several X-rays, dating 1974-2010. The appeals document the cases of all prisoners executed in Texas from 1999 to 2010; a few of the executions that occurred between 1993 and 1998 are also documented. Earlier death penalty appeals (prior to 1988) may be documented in the series Case files.

These records are restricted. Please refer back to the Restrictions statements listed early in this inventory, which are also repeated in the full finding aid linked in the next paragraph.

If you are reading this electronically, click on the link to go to the full finding aid. If you are reading this in paper, the series finding aid is found at a separate divider within the binder: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals execution case files (http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/30112/tsl-30112.html).

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