The judiciary in Texas functions similarly to the federal judiciary and its role is to interpret the laws. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is the chief legal and law enforcement officer for the State of Texas. The judiciary oversees the application and development of laws to ensure that they operate within the original charters of government power. The judiciary checks the power of the legislative and executive branches by declaring whether laws and acts adopted are unconstitutional. The Texas judiciary resolves disputes and determines whether a person is guilty or innocent when accused of breaking the law. It also regulates the estates of the deceased. It manages prisons, monitors parolees and, in extreme cases, carries out the death penalty against those convicted of a capital crime. The Texas Judicial Department includes five levels of courts. The lower levels are the trial courts, similar to the federal system. The courts of appeal hear appeals of civil and criminal cases from lower courts. Unlike the federal system, the top of the Texas judicial hierarchy is divided into two supreme courts, the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court for civil cases.