Courts & rulings
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Article III courtTrial courtAppointed
One of 4 federal trial courts in Texas; jurisdiction is split by county.
Appointed, President nominates, Senate confirms.
Appellate path
Statutory divisions: Tyler, Beaumont, Sherman, Marshall, Texarkana, Lufkin.
Covers 43 counties in Texas.
Precedent & authority
Bound by its own circuit and the Supreme Court. Decisions of other district courts, even within the same circuit, are only persuasive.