In addition to local courts, the District of Columbia has a federal court system, which includes the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. This court handles federal cases, including those involving federal law, constitutional issues, and disputes involving the federal government. Additionally, the District is home to various federal agencies and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which reviews decisions from the district court and federal agencies.
a district court
a district court
Local courts and district courts.
a district court
federal, state, district and local
At a local level, there are local trial courts, the only courts that don't act as appellate courts. Above the local trial courts are intermediate appellate courts, above which is the State Supreme Court. At a federal level, there are circuit and district courts, with the Federal Supreme Court at the top.
Territorial courts are similar to federal district courts in that they hear cases related to federal law and the U.S. Constitution, but they have jurisdiction within U.S. territories rather than states. These courts have limited authority compared to federal district courts.
Most states have local trial courts--municipal, county, district, and small-claims courts. Millions of civil and criminal cases are tried at this level.
superior 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.
Legal cases in the District of Columbia and U.S. territories are typically settled in local courts, which include trial courts, appellate courts, and, in the case of D.C., the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Federal cases can also be heard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia or in federal courts in the territories. Additionally, cases may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit or relevant regional circuits for territories. Each jurisdiction follows its own set of laws and procedures, influenced by both local and federal statutes.
The addition of district courts in the 1851 constitution was meant to address the need for a more efficient and localized judicial system to handle cases at the local level. This allowed for quicker resolution of legal matters and improved access to justice for residents across the state.