Tex. Codes » Family Code · TITLE 3. JUVENILE JUSTICE CODE · CHAPTER 51. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 51.18 (2026)

Election Between Juvenile Court And Alternate Juvenile Court

✓ current as of May 2026
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Sec. 51.18. ELECTION BETWEEN JUVENILE COURT AND ALTERNATE JUVENILE COURT. (a) This section applies only to a child who has a right to a trial before a juvenile court the judge of which is not an attorney licensed in this state.

(b) On any matter that may lead to an order appealable under Section 56.01 of this code, a child may be tried before either the juvenile court or the alternate juvenile court.

(c) The child may elect to be tried before the alternate juvenile court only if the child files a written notice with that court not later than 10 days before the date of the trial. After the notice is filed, the child may be tried only in the alternate juvenile court. If the child does not file a notice as provided by this subsection, the child may be tried only in the juvenile court.

(d) If the child is tried before the juvenile court, the child is not entitled to a trial de novo before the alternate juvenile court.

(e) The child may appeal any order of the juvenile court or alternate juvenile court only as provided by Section 56.01 of this code.

Added by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 1112, ch. 411, Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 1977. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 168, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1993.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 1981–1987 · leading case: Deleon v. State, 728 S.W.2d 935 (Tex. App. 1987).
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Deleon v. State, 728 S.W.2d 935 (Tex. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “See Tex.Fam.Code Ann. §§ 51.18, 51.04(d) (Vernon 1986); Tex.”
J. L., Matter Of, 625 S.W.2d 96 (Tex. App. 1981). “Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 51.18 (Vernon Supp.1981) provides: If a juvenile court, the judge of which is not an attorney licensed in this state, issues an order that may be appealed as provided in Subsection (c) of Section 56.”
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