One of 4 federal trial courts in Texas; jurisdiction is split by county.
Appointed, President nominates, Senate confirms.
Statutory divisions: Galveston, Houston, Laredo, Brownsville, Victoria, Corpus Christi, McAllen.
Covers 43 counties in Texas.
Bound by its own circuit and the Supreme Court. Decisions of other district courts, even within the same circuit, are only persuasive.
