Cameron County
Cameron County is located in southern Texas along the United States-Mexico border. It was established in 1848 and covers approximately 891.7 square miles. Its county seat is Brownsville, which is also the largest city in the county. Cameron County is home to about 421,854 residents and is known for its rich cultural history and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico.
The court system in Cameron County operates within the Texas Judicial Branch framework, which adheres to common law principles. It includes the District, Constitutional, County Court of Law, Justice of the Peace, and Municipal Courts.
Cameron County District Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over serious criminal matters such as felonies and civil cases. They also handle cases involving family law, probate, and land disputes. The Cameron County Constitutional County Court has jurisdiction over probate, guardianship, mental health cases, family law matters, and juvenile delinquency cases. It also handles misdemeanors and appeals from the Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts. The County Courts at Law share jurisdiction with District Courts for civil cases where the amount in dispute is between $500 and $100,000. These courts also handle misdemeanors, and family law matters. Cameron County Justice of the Peace Courts have jurisdiction over certain civil claims within financial limits, misdemeanors punishable by fines, preliminary hearings for felonies, small claims, and evictions. On the other hand, Cameron County Municipal Courts, including Rio Hondo, Rancho Viejo, Jennifer Gutierrez, Palm Valley, Los Fresnos, and San Benito Municipal Courts, handle city ordinance violations, felony preliminary hearings, certain misdemeanors, and traffic violations, typically where the maximum penalty is a fine.
Cameron County public court records are generated through legal proceedings, court hearings, and trials of civil cases and criminal matters within the county. They include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Probate Records
- Family law Records
These records are managed by the Cameron County District Court Clerk and are made available to the public upon request under the Public Information Act, except for restricted records like juvenile and adoption case records. Record seekers can search records and dockets through the Cameron Court Record Search section. Also, public access is provided through in-person visits to the Cameron County Clerk's Office located at:
964 East Harrison Street
Brownsville
Texas 78520
Phone: (956 544-0815
These records are also available online through the Cameron County Record Search Portal. Physical and certified copies of court records are available for a fee.
