Howard County
Howard County comprises 900 square miles of land area in the western part of Texas. It was created in 1876 and had about 30,554 residents as of July 1, 2023. Named after the U.S. Congressman Volney E. Howard, the county seat and largest city is Big Spring.
The Howard District Court is the primary trial court with the subject matter authority to handle legal matters that do not fall under the jurisdiction of any court. Usually, this court hears all felony criminal cases, election contest cases, title to land disputes, and civil matters in which the amount of money involved is $200 or more.
In the Constitutional County Court, the county judge presides over all Class A and Class B misdemeanors, certain probate matters, and appeals from the Municipal and Justice Courts within Howard County. The Howard Justice Courts, by contrast, have original jurisdiction over Class C misdemeanors. Additionally, these courts issue search and arrest warrants and handle small claims matters.
The Big Spring Municipal Court is the city's judicial branch. Within the city limit, this court shares jurisdiction with the Justice Courts over class C misdemeanors punishable by fine only. It also adjudicates city ordinance violations, traffic violations, and small claims cases.
Most case files, trial dates, and docket sheets in Howard County are accessible to the public upon request and payment of the required fees. Depending on where the case was initiated, interested parties may visit the office of either the District Clerk or the County Clerk to review or copy the desired records. However, due to privacy concerns, family records and records involving minors are restricted from public inspection.
Additionally, the public can access District Court civil case records online through the Howard County Judicial and Jail Records Searches website. Searches can be completed by selecting “Civil Records" and entering a case number, party name, or attorney information.
