Both the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals hear appeals from lower courts in the state court system. What types of cases does each court hear? How do most cases reach these courts?

How do the courts have some control over the cases they hear?
Should this discretion of the courts be eliminated?
Defend your answer.
What will be an ideal response?

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Identify the Texas Supreme Court as the highest appellate court for civil cases and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals as the highest appellate court for criminal cases.
2. Indicate that most cases reach these courts via petition from losing parties of lower court rulings.
3. Explain the process for submitting and reviewing petitions for (discretionary) review, including the need for four justices to agree to hear an appeal.
4. State and defend a position regarding the discretion of the courts on hearing appeals.