The Evolution of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction and Procedure in Texas

Abstract

One of the most frustrating tasks facing a lawyer when he researches in an area of active legislative reform is to determine speedily and with certainty the relative validity of a case once precedent. Would, for example, the 1937 criminal court conviction of a 9-year-old for murder be possible today even though new juvenile court legislation has been enacted? What about the 1949 holding that the juvenile court was not required to warn the child of his privilege against self-incrimination prior to testifying? The 1910 decision that juvenile court jurisdiction was based on age at the time of trial, not at the time of the offense? On the theorem that history is relevant, this article will explore the evolution of juvenile court jurisdiction and procedure in Texas.