To which courts does the Code apply?

• A. It applies only to municipal and justice of the peace courts.
• B. It applies only to appellate courts and above.
• C. It applies to all courts with criminal jurisdiction: the Court of Criminal Appeals, the courts of appeals, district courts, county courts, county courts at law with criminal jurisdiction, county criminal courts, magistrates in certain counties, justice of the peace courts, and municipal courts.
• D. It applies to all courts with criminal jurisdiction, but excludes municipal courts.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure governs procedures for every court that handles criminal cases. It applies across the entire system, from the highest criminal appellate court down to the smallest local venues, and to every level in between that has criminal jurisdiction. So it includes the Court of Criminal Appeals, the courts of appeals, district courts, county courts (including county courts at law with criminal jurisdiction and county criminal courts), magistrates in counties where they have criminal authority, justice of the peace courts, and municipal courts. This broad scope ensures uniform rules for charging, arraignment, trial, sentencing, appeals, and other criminal procedures across all courts with criminal jurisdiction. The other options try to limit the reach—focusing only on appellate courts, or only on municipal/JP courts, or excluding municipal courts—but those exclusions don’t align with the Code’s comprehensive applicability.