First Oral Arguments Heard in Austin McCloud Appellate Court Museum
Eleventh Court of Appeals in Eastland, TX ‐ left to right: Justice Terry McCall, Chief Justice Jim R. Wright, Justice Eric Kalenak and Retired Chief Justice Austin McCloud standing.
On November 10, 2011, the Eleventh Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in the courtroom of the Austin McCloud Appellate Court Museum in Eastland, Texas. This was the first time the courtroom has been in use since renovations on the interior of the building began approximately two years ago. It is believed the Museum is housed in the building that was first used for courthouse purposes after Eastland became the county seat in 1875. The Museum allows the Court of Appeals to use the courtroom in times of emergency or for ceremonial proceedings.
In honor of the Museum’s namesake, Retired Chief Justice Austin McCloud spoke the opening remarks before court proceedings began. He shared his excitement about the Museum, and how honored he is to be a part. At the conclusion of Judge McCloud’s remarks, Chief Justice Jim Wright said, “I wish we had a ring of honor; you would be in it.” As the next best alternative, Judge Wright announced that Judge McCloud’s robe was officially retired as of that date and would be placed on permanent loan to the Museum.
The Austin McCloud Appellate Court Museum is the first of its kind in the State of Texas; it’s mission being to educate the public on the appellate process in Texas by tracing its past, its present and its future. Through the use of multimedia resources, both on‐site and to be viewed in the historic Lyric Theatre nearby, the case process will be experienced from the trial court level through mandate. Artifacts from the court’s history that will be on display include an early‐day law office, the original House Journal in which is recorded the creation of the Eleventh Court of Appeals, books, records and historical oil and gas opinions from the days of the oil boom as well as other documents and items from the court’s history. Special presentations and tours of the facility will be available to colleges and universities so that students of those institutions might better understand the appellate system in Texas. The museum contains a version of the original courtroom used by the Eleventh Court of Appeals. By special arrangement, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to see actual cases presented in oral arguments before the Eleventh Court as well as actual cases presented to other courts in Eastland County.
The Eleventh Court of Appeals was created in 1925 by an Act of the 39th Legislature (S.B. 189, Ch. 87, P. 258) as authorized by Article 5, Sections 1 and 6 of the Texas Constitution. The court is composed of three Justices: Chief Justice Jim R. Wright, Justice Terry McCall, and Justice Eric Kalenak. The court has jurisdiction of twenty‐eight counties: Baylor, Borden, Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Dawson, Eastland, Ector, Erath, Fisher, Gaines, Glasscock, Haskell, Howard, Jones, Knox, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor and Throckmorton. It has intermediate appellate jurisdiction of both civil and criminal cases appealed from lower courts in twenty‐eight counties of Texas; in civil cases where judgment rendered exceeds $100, exclusive of costs, and other civil proceedings as provided by law; and in criminal cases except in post‐conviction writs of habeas corpus and where the death penalty has been imposed.
For additional information, call (254) 631‐0311.
