Criminal courts are usually trial courts with the authority to hear only matters relating to criminal prosecutions—and are said to have exclusive jurisdiction of criminal matters within the county, for example. And in some states there are appellate courts with exclusive jurisdiction over criminal appeals. For example, in Texas, the intermediate courts of appeals hear both civil and criminal cases, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for criminal matters, and hears appeals of criminal matters from the intermediate courts of appeal.
In New Mexico, criminal courts are primarily responsible for handling criminal prosecutions and have exclusive jurisdiction over criminal matters within their respective counties. These courts are typically trial courts where criminal cases are first heard. New Mexico also has an appellate court system for reviewing decisions made by the trial courts. The New Mexico Court of Appeals hears both civil and criminal cases, including appeals from lower courts. However, the New Mexico Supreme Court is the highest court in the state and has the authority to review decisions made by the Court of Appeals. While the New Mexico Supreme Court can hear both civil and criminal cases, it has discretionary jurisdiction, meaning it can choose which appeals to hear. Unlike Texas, New Mexico does not have a separate court of last resort specifically for criminal matters; the New Mexico Supreme Court serves this role for all types of cases.