Policy & Funding

Various policy and funding organizations work with the Texas Judicial Branch to do such things as establish and enforce policies and guidelines, make recommendations, manage certifications, study and report on judicial entities, require and aid in reporting and planning. Here's an overview of the Policy and Funding organizations available from the Organizations menu.

• The state is divided into nine Administrative Judicial Regions (AJR). Each region's presiding judge is charged with implementing regional rules of administration, advising local judges on judicial management, recommending changes to the Supreme Court for the improvement of judicial administration, and acting for local administrative judges in their absence.
• The mission of the Texas Children's Commission (TCC) is to strengthen courts for children, youth and families in the Texas child-protection system and thereby improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children.
• The Criminal Justice Integrity Unit (TCJIU) is an ad hoc committee that reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the Texas criminal justice system, to bring about meaningful reform through education, training, and legislative recommendations.
• The Judicial Branch Certification Commission (JBCC) handles certification, registration, and licensing of court reporters and court reporting firms, professional guardians, process servers, and licensed court interpreters.
• The Judicial Committee on Information Technology (JCIT) establishes standards and guidelines for the systematic implementation and integration of information technology into the trial and appellate courts in Texas.
• The Judicial Compensation Commission (JCC) recommends the proper salaries to be paid by the state for all justices and judges of the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, the courts of appeals, and the district courts.
• The Supreme Court Advisory Committee (SCAC) assists the Supreme Court in the continuing study, review, and development of rules of administration and procedure for Texas courts.
• The Texas Access to Justice Commission (TAJC) seeks to improve the quality of justice in civil legal matters for low-income Texans by developing initiatives that increase access and reduce barriers to the judicial system.
• The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) is the leading funding source for legal aid in Texas. With TAJF funding, legal aid organizations provide assistance in civil matters to more than 100,000 low-income Texas families each year.
• The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) provides financial and technical support to counties to develop and maintain indigent defense systems that meet community needs and comply with the Constitution and state law. The TIDC also requires local planning for indigent defense and reporting of expenditures.
• The Texas Judicial Council (TJC) is the policy-making body for the state judiciary that continuously studies and reports on the organization and practices of the Texas judicial system.