The two lowest courts in Missouri are the Municipal Courts and the Associate Circuit Courts. Municipal Courts handle violations of city ordinances and minor criminal cases, while Associate Circuit Courts address civil cases involving lower amounts and misdemeanor criminal cases. Both serve as entry points for the state's judicial system before cases may escalate to higher courts.
In the federal system, United States District Courts are the lowest level of courts. In the state systems, the names of the lowest level of courts vary by state (but they are usually called district or county courts).
Circuit courts do hear most of the criminal cases in Missouri, but circuit courts also hear civil, family law, and a variety of other cases. Some minor criminal offenses may be heard by municipal courts, which have jurisdiction over ordinance violations that occur within a particular town or city's limits. For more information on Missouri courts, visit the Missouri Courts Directory related link.
Courts below trial courts handle crimes punishable by fine only. Depending on the state (and the population where you live), these courts are titled county courts, village courts, town courts, municipal courts, etc. They are the lowest courts. To find the lowest court where you live, call the clerk in the village, town, city or county you live in and ask what the lowest court is.
45
district courts, appeals courts, Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts
district courts
The lowest point in Missouri is the St. Francis River at the state's southeastern border with Arkansas, where it flows into the Mississippi River. It reaches an elevation of around 230 feet above sea level.
Missouri
The Missouri river is approximately 3,800 miles long
They are known by various names in various states.
The district courts, I believe there are 94 of them