Texas Center for the Judiciary, Judicial Excellence Through Education, Austin, Texas


The Texas College for Judicial Studies (TCJS) is an award-winning, multi-year program designed to provide advanced educational opportunities to judges who desire to improve their adjudication skills and acquire more knowledge in their jurisdictional specialization. In 2006, State Bar of Texas President Eduardo Rodriguez recognized the Texas Center with a Presidential Citation for Outstanding Judicial Education, noting the TCJS specifically for increasing the specialized competence of the Texas judiciary. The same year, the Texas Center receive the ABA Judicial Excellence in Education Award, recognizing the excellence of all Texas Center programs, including the TCJS. Why did we develop the college? Both the Long-Range Planning Committee and the Curriculum Committee recognize the desire of judges to have the opportunity to obtain advanced, specialized training in their jurisdictional area so they can excel on the bench. The creation of the College is in keeping with our mission statement at the Texas Center: Judicial Excellence Through Education. Read on to learn more about the Texas College for Judicial Studies. What is the Texas College for Judicial Studies? The Texas College for Judicial Studies (TCJS) is an award-winning, multi-year program curriculum designed to provide advanced educational opportunities to judges who desire to improve their adjudication skills and require more knowledge in their jurisdictional specialization. How do I enter the TCJS program? In order to attend any part of this program, you must apply for admission and be accepted into the TCJS. To be eligible, you must be an active judge of a Texas county court at law, district, or appellate court with four years of judicial experience in the county court at law, district, and/or appellate courts. On your application, you must select your choice of one of five specialty tracks (civil, criminal, family/juvenile, appellate, or general jurisdiction) and sign a letter of intent to complete the program within five years. Admission in the TCJS is limited. For those who meet the program criteria, admission is first come, first served. How often will the TCJS curriculum be offered? The TCJS curriculum will be offered annually. What is the TCJS program? The TCJS program consists of a core curriculum of 16 hours and a specialty curriculum of 27 hours. The core curriculum includes courses important to all members of the judiciary, regardless of jurisdiction, and is offered in odd years only. The specialty curriculum is designed to provide you with specific training in your jurisdictional area-civil, criminal, general jurisdiction, family/juvenile, or appellate. The specialty curriculum is offered in 9-hour segments every year. How do I complete the TCJS program? You must take the entire 16-hour core curriculum in one year to receive credit. You must also take each 9-hour segment of your specialty curriculum in its entirety each year to receive credit. It is possible to take the core curriculum and one specialty segment in the same year. To receive a diploma, you must complete the core curriculum plus 27 hours in your selected specialty track. I am a general jurisdiction judge. How will I get specialty training? As a general jurisdiction judge, you hear all types of cases. As a result, your 27-hour specialty curriculum will be composed of a 9-hour segment in each specialty area of civil, criminal, and family/juvenile law. How long do I have to complete the TCJS program? You may take up to five years to complete; however, it is designed to be completed in three to four years. Will I receive college credit for other TCJS courses I take? Only courses taken during the TCJS will be applied toward your graduation credits. What will I receive upon completion of the program? You will receive a diploma recognizing your completion of the course work at the TCJS. You will also receive recognition on your name badge as a college alumni at all subsequent Texas Center conferences you attend. Finally, and most importantly, you will receive a higher level of judicial knowledge, expertise, and skill. How do I maintain my status after completion of the TCJS program? To maintain your status in the TCJS, you must maintain your active status on the bench as well as attend 9 hours of the TCJS's specialty curriculum at least once every four years. How do I obtain additional information about the TCJS? If you would like additional information, please contact the Executive Director or Associate Director at the Texas Center for the Judiciary, (512) 482-8986.

Excel, Specialize, Advance

The Texas College for Judicial Studies (TCJS) is an award-winning, multi-year program designed to provide advanced educational opportunities to judges who desire to improve their adjudication skills and acquire more knowledge in their jurisdictional specialization.

In 2006, State Bar of Texas President Eduardo Rodriguez recognized the Texas Center with a Presidential Citation for Outstanding Judicial Education, noting the TCJS specifically for increasing the specialized competence of the Texas judiciary. The same year, the Texas Center receive the ABA Judicial Excellence in Education Award, recognizing the excellence of all Texas Center programs, including the TCJS.

Why did we develop the college?
Both the Long-Range Planning Committee and the Curriculum Committee recognize the desire of judges to have the opportunity to obtain advanced, specialized training in their jurisdictional area so they can excel on the bench. The creation of the College is in keeping with our mission statement at the Texas Center: Judicial Excellence Through Education. Read on to learn more about the Texas College for Judicial Studies.

What is the Texas College for Judicial Studies?
The Texas College for Judicial Studies (TCJS) is an award-winning, multi-year program curriculum designed to provide advanced educational opportunities to judges who desire to improve their adjudication skills and require more knowledge in their jurisdictional specialization.

How do I enter the TCJS program?
In order to attend any part of this program, you must apply for admission and be accepted into the TCJS. To be eligible, you must be an active judge of a Texas county court at law, district, or appellate court with four years of judicial experience in the county court at law, district, and/or appellate courts. On your application, you must select your choice of one of five specialty tracks (civil, criminal, family/juvenile, appellate, or general jurisdiction) and sign a letter of intent to complete the program within five years.

Admission in the TCJS is limited. For those who meet the program criteria, admission is first come, first served.

How often will the TCJS curriculum be offered?
The TCJS curriculum will be offered annually.

What is the TCJS program?
The TCJS program consists of a core curriculum of 16 hours and a specialty curriculum of 27 hours. The core curriculum includes courses important to all members of the judiciary, regardless of jurisdiction, and is offered in odd years only. The specialty curriculum is designed to provide you with specific training in your jurisdictional area-civil, criminal, general jurisdiction, family/juvenile, or appellate. The specialty curriculum is offered in 9-hour segments every year.

How do I complete the TCJS program?
You must take the entire 16-hour core curriculum in one year to receive credit. You must also take each 9-hour segment of your specialty curriculum in its entirety each year to receive credit. It is possible to take the core curriculum and one specialty segment in the same year. To receive a diploma, you must complete the core curriculum plus 27 hours in your selected specialty track.

I am a general jurisdiction judge. How will I get specialty training?
As a general jurisdiction judge, you hear all types of cases. As a result, your 27-hour specialty curriculum will be composed of a 9-hour segment in each specialty area of civil, criminal, and family/juvenile law.

How long do I have to complete the TCJS program?
You may take up to five years to complete; however, it is designed to be completed in three to four years.

Will I receive college credit for other TCJS courses I take?
Only courses taken during the TCJS will be applied toward your graduation credits.

What will I receive upon completion of the program?
You will receive a diploma recognizing your completion of the course work at the TCJS. You will also receive recognition on your name badge as a college alumni at all subsequent Texas Center conferences you attend. Finally, and most importantly, you will receive a higher level of judicial knowledge, expertise, and skill.

How do I maintain my status after completion of the TCJS program?
To maintain your status in the TCJS, you must maintain your active status on the bench as well as attend 9 hours of the TCJS's specialty curriculum at least once every four years.

How do I obtain additional information about the TCJS?
If you would like additional information, please contact the Executive Director or Associate Director at the Texas Center for the Judiciary, (512) 482-8986.

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