Smith County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Founded in 1846, Smith County covers a total area of 950 square miles and is home to over 234,600 residents. The county seat, the City of Tyler, is renowned as the rose capital of America. Smith County resolves various legal matters within its boundaries equitably through its court system. The county has several courts, including District Courts, County Courts, Justice Courts, and Municipal Courts. Each of these courts has specific jurisdictions and responsibilities.

Smith County has four District Courts, three County Courts at Law, five Justice of the Peace Courts, and seven Municipal Courts. The District Courts can handle all types of cases but have original jurisdiction over felonies, divorces, election contests, certain civil actions, and any matter outside other courts' jurisdictions. Typical cases that County Courts at Law adjudicate include domestic and juvenile matters, misdemeanors, small claims actions, and probate disputes. The Justice of the Peace Courts handle traffic cases, Class C misdemeanors, and civil matters up to $20,000 within the precincts where they are located. Additionally, Municipal Courts within Smith County resolve cases related to city/town ordinance violations, minor criminal cases, and traffic offenses. The Municipal Courts are in the following cities:

• Arp
• Lindale
• Noonday
• Tyler
• Troup
• Whitehouse
• Winona

Smith County's crime rate was 2,464 per 100,000 people in 2023. In 2022, the District Courts' caseload, per the Texas Judicial Branch Annual Statistics Reports, included approximately 4,900 case dispositions. Of the disposed cases, 2,300 were criminal cases, 1,200 were civil cases, and 1,300 were family cases. The County Courts at Law resolved an estimated 6,000 cases the same year with 3,600 being misdemeanor criminal cases. These courts also resolved about 1,100 civil, 300 juvenile, and 1,000 family cases. Likewise, civil and criminal case dispositions by the Justice Courts were about 20,000 in Smith County. The District Clerk maintains official records for court proceedings and makes them publicly available to anyone, excluding confidential information like juvenile or adoption records. Individuals can retrieve such court records online or at the Office of the Clerk.

In summary, Smith County fulfills its judicial duties and responsibilities through its court system, which includes District Courts, County Courts at Law, Justice of the Peace Courts, and Municipal Courts. By offering easy electronic access to court records, the county ensures compliance with public information laws and builds public trust in its legal system.