One hundred years ago today, the Eleventh Court of Appeals in Eastland, Texas came into existence. In 1925 during the 39th Texas legislative session, Senator Carl C. Hardin of (DWK &RW OHG D ELOO to establish the Eleventh Court of Appeals in East-ODG:LWKWKHDFLDODG political support of the citizens of Eastland County to host an appellate court, the bill passed. Governor Miriam “Ma” Ferguson signed the bill into law. Her execution of the bill was sig-LFDWEHFDHKHSHGHcessor, Governor Pat Neff, vetoed a similar measure in 1923.
The court was originally KRHGRWKHIRWKRR of the First State Bank in Eastland (the current home of the Eastland County Museum). The court soon moved to its current quarters in the Eastland County Courthouse when the “new” courthouse was built with space designed for the court.
Over time, the court expanded, both in subject- matter jurisdiction and geography. The court originally only had civil jurisdiction, and it was known as the Eleventh Court of Civil Appeals for WKHWIWLHDRILW existence. As a result of a constitutional amendment in 1980, all intermediate courts of appeals in Texas acquired criminal jurisdiction on September 1, 1981.
