WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. Pay Traffic Ticket, Delaware Courts Home|Terms of Use|Feedback|Delaware.gov, MMXVI The Delaware Judiciary - courts.delaware.gov, Office of the State Court Collections Enforcement, Lawyer's Fund for Client Protection (LFCP), Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission. Trials are generally public, but jury deliberations are private. The Supreme Court must be involved in proceedings to end a marriage since it is the only court which can grant divorce, annulment, and separation. Press Releases, Hours & Locations The Pittsburgh Municipal Court is staffed by 13 Magisterial District judges from Allegheny County (theyre included in the total number of magisterial district judges, above). They act as a court of appeal for cases from the District and Municipal Courts. Change Your Name Weekend Edition Saturday, hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon, wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. Judicial System Education Video companion Brochure. The Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction in civil cases where the amount in controversy, exclusive of interest, does not exceed $75,000 (as of October 21, 2019). As trial courts with original jurisdiction, superior courts are where trials take place. Reset Text Size The Superior Court, Delaware's court of gen-eral jurisdiction, has original jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases except equity cases. Defendants have the right to appear, testify, and call witnesses on their behalf. In the Eighth Judicial District, the proper appellate court for small claims cases is generally the County Court located in the county in which the original trial was heard. No referrals are permitted to interfere with existing trial dates. In both these jurisdictions, a Superior Court refers to a court that is above the lower court(s), but below the highest appellate court. The court also must review the appeal in any case in which a trial court has imposed a judgment of death. The Supreme Court is the state-wide trial court with the broadest jurisdiction, both in criminal and civil matters. Every state has a judicial system that includes both trial courts and appellate courts. xiIv-?&hJyzJA6]R,Yls5_bni u1,=]~7ny/w77w,H}kg..&xOb;2}aW4}7X9E8sf{>[]uO[}:g o?.bW;{_~z2}Kpe>~y~|wvvk|8&~O`x~Wsl~A_{3x_&[wL~LxO7V1a@Do11#|gEV6QNwaC*F|qUkge%w}>~azztI>}|sEMe?GL._{Yz$c4hx|[ `kc;^6 Alternative Dispute Resolution represents a variety of processes through which potential litigants may resolve disputes as an alternative to litigation. The Supreme Court continues to follow guidance provided by federal, state, and local health authorities to limit the spread of COVID-19. Drug Treatment Courts Office of Disciplinary Counsel But some states use the term "superior court" to refer to different types of courts. Probate Court matters may be appealed to the Superior Court. Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court is the states highest court. Exploring the stories that matter across the commonwealth with all Pennsylvanians in mind. In Massachusetts, the trial court system has different types of courts including the housing court, the district court, and the superior court. Parties dissatisfied with a decision of a U.S. District Court, the U.S. Court of Claims, and/or the U.S. Court of International Trade may appeal to a U.S. Court of Appeals. As adjectives the difference between superior and supreme is that superior is higher in quality while supreme is dominant, having power over all others. Article III, Section 1 specifically creates the U.S. Supreme Court and gives Congress the authority to create the lower federal courts. The proposed plan is available here. Town and Village Courts have criminal jurisdiction over violations and misdemeanors and civil jurisdiction over claims of up to $3,000. Appeals from the Court of Chancery may be taken to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court judgments are final. Like the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals decides only questions of law. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Today, the Indiana court system has evolved into a system of justice that is sophisticated and complex. [4] [5] Municipal Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction like state District Courts, but Municipal Courts may not hear civil lawsuits. The state Supreme Court serves as the highest court in the state and has discretion to review decisions of the Courts of Appeal in order to settle important questions of law and to resolve conflicts among the Courts of Appeal. Non-judicial Agencies Please also review the Superior Court Records Center brochure. The Superior Court, originally established to ease the workload of the Supreme Court, has 15 judges. The first court that your appeal will go to is a regular appellate court. Like the Superior Court, it hears appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas, but limits its docket to cases dealing with state and local governments and regulatory agencies. The two-to-two ruling, with a . Thus, cases involving federal law are typically initiated in a District Court. San Francisco is using existing staff to plan CARE Court, but will hire new workers in the summer and fall. Custody The basic concept behind drug treatment courts involves a dramatic intervention by the court in cooperation with an entire team, including the defense, prosecution, treatment, education, and law enforcement. A party may ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals, but the Supreme Court usually is under no obligation to do so. Posted on Jan 18, 2017. It is the highest court in the state and is based in the Temple of Justice at the Washington State Capitol campus in the state capital of Olympia. The Supreme Court has two main functions. Human Trafficking Awareness. Divorce Decisions stemming from Florida's highest court have helped shape the state itself and also the nation. The Supreme Court can choose a limited number of cases from the cases it is asked to decide. The fact that the definitions of these terms vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction only adds to the complexity. Transcripts, Justice of the Peace FAQ The Washington Court of Appeals has three divisions, based in Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane. In the civil context, magistrates are generally assigned to preside over small claims court which hears disputes for claims under $10,000. The undisputed facts, and the violations of law, show that. Read Understanding the Federal Courts. Settings, Start voice input. Let us take a closer look at the definitions of both terms. It can hear virtually any type of case brought before it, with the exception of claims brought against the state which must be heard by the Court of Claims. In each judicial district there is an Administrative Judge who oversees the courts contained in each district. It consists of different levels of courts serving different functions and over 575 judicial officers hearing more than 1.8 million cases each year! DUI court, drug court, mental health court, and veterans court are all different kinds of problem-solving courts. The Alaska Supreme Court. The Judicial Branch is a co-equal, independent branch of government entrusted with the fair, just and efficient resolution of disputes under the rules of law and equity, and with the protection of all rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the State of Delaware and the United States. There are two primary levels of Indiana state courts: trial courts and appellate courts. Neutral evaluators meet with the parties and their counsel both in joint session as well as private caucus to hear presentations, offer opinions on their claims and explore settlement options. All criminal defendants are entitled to a jury trial, and many civil litigants choose jury trials as well. Mediation Cases are referred to the program by court order with a 45 day stay of proceedings. Commission on Continuing Legal Education: Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements for members of the Delaware Bar were established by the Supreme Court to ensure that attorneys and members of the judiciary maintain their professional competence. For further information regarding the Eighth Judicial District Commercial Division (covering all eight counties) visit Commercial Division - 8th Judicial District. Other agencies associated with the Delaware Judiciary include the state funded agencies: Child Death Review Commission, Delaware Nursing Home Residents Quality Assurance Commission, Office of the Child Advocate Law Libraries, and Public Guardian. Cases begin in trial courts, and that is where civil and criminal complaints are filed, juries are seated, witnesses are called to testify and verdicts are rendered. Procedures, Board of Bar Examiners A key feature of the District Court is that its jurisdiction is restricted to a particular area or location. A trial jury, also known as a petit jury, decides whether the defendant committed the crime as charged in a criminal case, or whether the defendant injured the plaintiff in a civil case. Find information, training, and resources. Erie County offers neutral evaluation, mediation, arbitration and summary jury trial for non-matrimonial civil cases through its ADR Program. We hear family matters, personal injury claims, commercial disputes, trust and estates issues, criminal cases, and landlord-tenant cases. The Court of Appeals is New York States highest court and court of last resort in most cases. G__xX>}S/A8/Moo+~[oLtc?vt+d. Justice of the Peace Courts. A grand juryis presented with evidence from the U.S. attorney, the prosecutor in federal criminal cases. 212; Smith v. Andrews, 6 Cal. Today, these courts hold much the same role; they process preliminary hearings and arraignments, function as small claims courts, set bail (except in murder cases), and decide whether to send criminal cases to a higher court. When the claim is filed, the clerk of the court will give you a trial date for your case. The primary difference for civil cases (as opposed to criminal cases) is the types of cases that can be heard in the federal system. Your email address will not be published. District Court - This court is the second tier or next level in the hierarchy and can hear appeals from the Magistrates Court. Who is the Plaintiff in a Criminal Lawsuit? Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. Spengler splits her time between the French Basque Country and Northern California. Learn more. States also usually have courts that handle specific legal matters, e.g., probate court (wills and estates); juvenile court; family court; etc. By Act of the General Assembly on April 26, 2005, the Court of Common Pleas became a Constitutional Court, pursuant to Article IV, Section 7B of the Delaware Constitution. Appellate courts oversee cases where one of the parties does not like. Both the state and federal systems have a Supreme Court, to serve as the "court of last resort." They also have concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in misdemeanor criminal and traffic infraction cases, but nearly all of those cases are prosecuted in the county courts. Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 15:37, "RCW 3.50.010: Municipal court authorized in cities of four hundred thousand or less", "RCW 35.20.010: Municipal court establishedTermination of courtAgreement covering costs of handling resulting criminal casesArbitrationNotice", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Washington_(state)_court_system&oldid=1142111873, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 15:37. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. A popular example of a Superior Court is the Court of Appeal. The Justice of the Peace Court is authorized by the Constitution of Delaware, Article IV, Section 1. The Official Website of the Delaware Judiciary, Change Your Text Size: Make Text Size Smaller Superior Court is responsible for handling cases involving serious crimes (felonies), civil disputes, real estate matters and family and domestic relations issues. The Constitution of Delaware, Article IV, Section 1, authorizes the Family Court. These courts resolve appeals from judgments or orders of the superior courts (Supreme, County, Family and Surrogate) in civil and criminal cases. People are summoned for jury duty, meaning that they are potential jurors for any cases coming up the week they are called to serve. Teo Spengler earned a J.D. The justifications for doing so fall generally into three distinct categories. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. In addition to the judicial positions listed above, there are approximately 111 full-time and part-time judges pro tempore, commissioners and hearing officers in the Superior Court. Given their name, superior courts must be better than some other courts, right? Commercial Division of the Supreme Court The state is divided into 13 judicial districts, 20 geographical areas and 12 juvenile districts. Rather than a separate court, the problem-solving courts are actually just a different approach to resolving qualifying cases. The Supreme Court of Indiana, the Court of Appeals of Indiana, and the Indiana Tax Court are appellate-level courts. Find more information about these agencies. Daimler AG v. Bauman, 571 U.S. 117 (2014) Residents of Argentina sued Daimler, a German company, in a California federal district court, alleging that Mercedes-Benz Argentina, a Daimler subsidiary, collaborated with state security forces during Argentina's 1976-1983 "Dirty War" to kidnap, detain, torture, and kill MB Argentina .