Which court has jurisdiction in a felony murder case?

• A. The Court of Appeals
• B. The District Court
• C. The County Court
• D. Justice Court

Answer: (B)

Felony murder is a felony-level offense, so it belongs in a trial court with broad authority over felonies: the District Court. In Texas, district courts have original jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases, meaning they handle the trial from start to finish unless a specific law assigns a different court to that particular matter. This is why felony murder goes to the district court rather than an appellate or misdemeanors-only court.

The Court of Appeals, on the other hand, does not hear initial trials; it handles appeals from trial courts after a conviction or other ruling. The County Court handles mostly Class A and B misdemeanors and certain other matters, not felonies. Justice Court deals with Class C misdemeanors and civil matters under small-claims limits, also not felonies. So the district court is the correct venue for a felony murder case because of its original jurisdiction over felony offenses.