Cherokee County
Cherokee County, Texas, was formed in 1846 and named after the Cherokee People. Its land area is 1,054 square miles, and about 50,000 people live within its boundaries. Jacksonville is its largest city while Rusk is its county seat.
The Cherokee County court system comprises the following:
- Cherokee County District Courts - there are 2 District Courts in the county: the 2nd and 369th District Courts. They handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts in the county, including civil, domestic relations, probate, and criminal cases
- Cherokee County Court at Law - hears misdemeanors, probate matters, and civil cases with claims between $500 and $100,000
- Cherokee County Justice of the Peace - Cherokee County has four Justice of the Peace Precincts across the county. They handle civil cases with claims under $20,000, Class C misdemeanors, and landlord-tenant matters
- Cherokee County municipal courts hear misdemeanors that cannot be penalized with jail time, such as municipal ordinance violations and traffic infractions. The seven municipal courts in the county are located in Bullard, Alto, Cuney, Jacksonville, Wells, Rusk, and New Summerfield
In Cherokee County, docket listings, court filings, orders, motions, transcripts, writs, warrants, court rulings, depositions, and other court information are documented as public court records, provided they are not sealed by law or court orders. The Cherokee County Clerk maintains public court records from the Court at Law and Justice of the Peace courts, while the Cherokee County District Clerk maintains those of the District Courts. Each municipal court clerk is responsible for their public court records.
Members of the public typically have access to these types of court records in Cherokee County, unless they are sealed by court orders:
- Criminal Case Records
- Civil Case Records
- Probate Case Records
- Traffic Records
- Family Law Case Records
Record seekers can visit the Cherokee County District Clerk for public court records from the District Courts at:
Cherokee County District Clerk
135 South Main
2nd Floor
Rusk, TX 75785
Phone: (903) 683-6908
They can also view and request Court at Law and Justice of the Peace public court records from the County Clerk's office at:
Cherokee County Clerk's Office
135 South Main Street
P.O. Box 420
Rusk, TX 75785
Phone: (903) 683-2350
Fax: (903) 683-2457
