The section on the structure and operation of the judicial branch profiles the court structure of Texas as well as judicial administration in the State. Also covered are the statutes regarding the Office of Court Administration and the Texas Judicial Council. Addressed as well in this section are the subject matter jurisdiction of the courts, trial courts and jurisdiction by county, judicial system appropriations, annual supplemental compensation of justices and judges, and a profile of appellate and trial judges. In another section, reports and developments of the Texas Judicial Council and the Office of Court Administration are presented. A court-activity overview is followed by presentations of statistics pertinent to the work of the various State, county, and municipal trial and appellate courts. Included in the data for the courts are the number of justices or judges in office as of September 1, 1997; an analysis of activity for the year ended August 31, 1997; opinions written by judges; jury activity; case categories; and sentencing. A separate section addresses district and county-level activity in juvenile matters.