State Court Systems
State Court Jurisdiction
Family—The body of law dealing with marriage, divorce, adoption, child custody and support, and domestic-relations issues. Sale of goods—The law concerning the sale of goods (moveable objects) involved in commerce (especially with regards to the Uniform Commercial Code). Corporations and business organization—The law concerning, among other things, the establishment, dissolution, and asset distribution of corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, etc. Election issues—The law concerning voter registration, voting in general, legislative reapportionment, etc. Municipal/zoning ordinances—The law involving municipal ordinances, including zoning ordinances that set aside certain areas for residential, commercial, industrial, or other development. Traffic regulation—A prescribed rule of conduct for traffic; a rule intended to promote the orderly and safe flow of traffic. Real property—Land and anything growing on, attached to, or erected on it, excluding anything that may be severed without injury to the land.
State Court Systems
High Court (State Supreme Court) Appellate Courts Circuit/District Courts - Trials, Felonies, Family, probate, juvenile issues, Election issues County Courts - Misdemeanors, Traffic Court, Property Disputes, Small Claims Municipal Courts(Some States)
Appellate Courts
Many, but not all, states have intermediate appellate courts between the trial courts of general jurisdiction and the highest court in the state.
Trial Courts Limited Jurisdiction
Probate court: This court handles matters concerning administering the estate of a person who has died (decedent). It sees that the provisions of a will are carried out or sees that a decedent's property is distributed according to state law if he/she died intestate (without a will). Family court: This court handles matters concerning adoption, annulments, divorce, alimony, custody, child support, etc. Traffic court: This court usually handles minor violations of traffic laws. Juvenile court: This court usually handles cases involving delinquent children under a certain age, for example, 18 or 21. Small claims court: This court usually handles suits between private persons of a relatively low dollar amount, for example, less than $5,000. Municipal court: This court usually handles cases involving offenses against city ordinances.
Supreme Court Tenure
15 States have 6 year terms 11 State have 8 year terms 13 States have 10 year terms 5 States have 12 year terms 4 States have Life Tenure Maine has 7 year terms and New York has 14 year terms
Supreme Court Member
16 States have 5 Justices 29 states have 7 Justices 5 states have 9 Justices
State Selections Process
7 States have partisan elections 15 States have non-partisan elections 16 States have Missouri Plan (Merritt) 12 States have appointment by Governor w/ Legislative Consent 2 states have election by Legislatures
High Courts (Supreme)
All states have some sort of highest court. While they are usually referred to as supreme courts, some, such as the highest court in Maryland, are known as courts of appeal. In states with intermediate appellate courts, the highest state courts usually have discretionary review as to whether to accept a case.
Trial Courts of General Jurisdiction
Trial courts of general jurisdiction are the main trial courts in the state system. They hear cases outside the jurisdiction of the trial courts of limited jurisdiction. These involve both civil and criminal cases
