Smith County Court Records in Texas

Smith County was established in 1846 and named for General James Smith, a general of the Texas Revolution; the county boundaries established at the time of its creation remain the same to this day. Smith County currently has over 245,200 residents and a land area of approximately 921.5 square miles, with a population density of about 253 people per square mile.

Smith County's trial court system is extensive and comprises District Courts, a Constitutional County Court, County Courts at Law, Justice Courts, Municipal Courts, and Specialty Courts:

• The District Courts have original jurisdiction over all criminal and civil matters in the county but typically handle felonies, civil matters involving $200 or more, family law cases, matters involving title to land, election-related cases, and any other matter outside the jurisdiction of the other courts.
• The Constitutional County Court typically handles Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases, probate matters, mental health-related matters, and civil cases that do not involve more than $20,000. 
• The County Courts at Law handle Class A and Class B misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $250,000 or more, juvenile cases, domestic relations cases, and contested probate matters. 
• The Justice Courts have limited jurisdiction and typically handle civil actions that do not involve more than $20,000, small claims, criminal misdemeanors punishable by a fine only, and traffic citations.
• The Municipal Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over local ordinance violations. They also have limited jurisdiction over civil matters and misdemeanors punishable by a fine only. 
• The Specialty Courts are specialized programs usually offered to certain offenders as an alternative to imprisonment. These courts combine rigorous monitoring, treatment, supervision, and support to rehabilitate participants, with the overall aim of identifying the root causes of their criminal behavior and reducing recidivism. 

Smith County public court records are documents created during or received and filed in relation to court activities in the county. Witness statements, subpoenas, summonses, depositions, motions, trial transcripts, rulings, court orders, and verdicts are a few examples of these types of records. Smith County court records are stored and maintained by the county's District and County Clerks, who are also responsible for providing interested parties with access to these records upon request.

As such, you can access Smith County public court records online via the county's Court Records Inquiry platform or by contacting the clerk's office at the particular court where the case in question was filed. Note that you may be required to pay a fee to obtain copies of these records.