District court
Federal courts of general jurisdiction (US District Courts, etc.) handle both civil and criminal cases.
The purpose of federal district courts is to handle small cases, such as those between businesses and people suing other people. The purpose of federal district courts is to handle the small problems that occur that need settling.Another View: US District Courts handle ALL matters (large and small - civil and criminal) which involve federal law and which originate within their jurisdiction. They are the lowest level courts of original jurisdiction within the federal system.In serious criminal cases, district courts convene panels of citizens, which are known as grand juries (to hear evidence of a possible crime and to recommend whether the evidence is sufficient to file criminal charges, there can be as many as 16 to 23 people, also they are not used in civil cases).
Charging and trying defendants for breaking federal laws.
In Alabama, Circuit Courts have more general jurisdiction over all types of cases, while District Courts have more limited jurisdiction. Practically, this means that in criminal matters, Circuit Courts hear the more serious cases like felonies, while District Courts generally hear the misdemeanors and ordinance violations. For civil cases, Circuit Courts generally handle matters where the amount in dispute is over $10,000. Circuit Courts and District Courts share jurisdiction over cases where the amount in dispute is less than $10,000 but more than $3,000; District Courts almost always hear the cases where the amount in dispute is less than $3,000 (small claims). In juvenile matters, the courts share jurisdiction but will operate as separate juvenile courts and maintain separate dockets. Circuit courts almost always hear domestic relations cases. For more information on this question and questions like it, check out the linked Court Reference website. It has great explanations of the court structures in different states as well as thousands of useful court-related links.
Arizona's trial court system includes Superior Courts, Justice Courts, Municipal Courts, and Magistrate Courts. Superior Courts have jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. Each county in Arizona has at least one Superior Court. Civil cases heard by Superior Courts include divorce, property cases, probate, estate, municipal ordinance legality, insolvency proceedings, and claims over $10,000. For claims of $5,001- $10,000, the Superior Courts share jurisdiction with the Justice Courts. The types of criminal cases handled by Superior Courts include felonies and some misdemeanors. Superior Courts also have a special panel, called the Tax Court, which handles cases involving the legality of a tax.
Federal courts of general jurisdiction (US District Courts, etc.) handle both civil and criminal cases.
United States district courts consider criminal and civil cases that come under federal authority.
district courts are responsible for determining the facts of a case. They take both criminal and civil cases. In a criminal case, a district court will decide if a person is guilty or innocent based on the evidence presented.
If you are referring to US DIstrict Courts - they hear any cases originating within their jurisdiction having to deal with violations of the federal civil and criminal statutes.
In 2010, a total of 361,323 cases were filed in US District Courts; of those, 78,428, or 21.7%, were criminal cases and 282,895, or 78.3%, were civil cases. There were 55,992 appeals filed in the US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts.
Criminal cases and civil cases
The u.s. District Courts are the trial courts of all Federal Court Systems. Both civil and criminal cases are filed here.
According to Chief Justice Roberts' year-end report for the federal judiciary, a total of 361,323 cases were filed in US District Courts in 2010, of which only 78,428, or 21.7%, were criminal cases. The vast majority of new filings were for civil cases.
The Appeals court reviews the district courts decisions.What do the District courts do? you ask, they handle civil and criminal cases that come under federal authority.They handle appeals from the Federal District Court.
Arkansas Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over civil cases with claims over $100. District Courts handle all civil cases with claims of $100 or less, and don't handle civil cases with claims over $25,000. For civil cases with claims between $100 and $25,000, both courts share jurisdiction. How they split them up varies from county to county. For criminal cases, Circuit Courts hear most felonies and some misdemeanors while District Courts hear most misdemeanors. Circuit Courts can refer criminal cases to District Court, but not vice versa. District Courts also handle traffic tickets and local ordinance violations. Circuit Courts usually handle all domestic relations (divorce, custody, support, etc), juvenile, and probate cases. There are actually two types of District Courts: State District Courts and Local District Courts. If all parties consent, a Circuit Court may refer a civil, family, or probate case to a State District Court but not to a Local District Court. The related link below has more details about Arkansas courts and the types of cases they handle, as well as contact information and resources for courts in each county.
Courts that have the authority to be the first courts in which most federal cases are heard are known as district courts. These are the trial courts of the federal judiciary system and are responsible for hearing both civil and criminal cases.
In 2010, a total of 361,323 cases were filed in US District Courts; of those, 78,428, or 21.7%, were criminal cases and 282,895, or 78.3%, were civil cases. There were 55,992 appeals filed in the US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts.