Below are all of the laws that govern the structure of courts that match your search criteria.

143 Results

Export results to Excel

State Statute Description/Statute Name Statutory language Court/legal body Function
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 26 Equity Jurisdiction; Promulgation of Rules and Forms.;

The district courts and divisions of the Boston municipal court department shall have original jurisdiction, concurrent with the superior court, of the following offenses, complaint of which shall be brought

+ See more
in the court of the district court department, or in the Boston municipal court department, as the case may be, within which judicial district the offense was allegedly committed or is otherwise made punishable:— all violations of by–laws, orders, ordinances, rules and regulations, made by cities, towns and public officers, all misdemeanors, except libels, all felonies punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five–years, the crimes listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section eight of chapter ninety B, subparagraph (1) of paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of section twenty–four, paragraph (a) of section twenty–four G and paragraph (1) of section twenty–four L of chapter ninety, paragraph (a) of section thirty–two and paragraph (a) of section thirty–two A of chapter ninety–four C, and section thirty–two J of chapter ninety–four C, section 38B of chapter 127, section one hundred and thirty–one E of chapter one hundred and forty, sections thirteen K, 15A, 15D, 21A and 26 of chapter two hundred and sixty–five and sections sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty–eight, thirty, forty–nine and one hundred and twenty–seven of chapter two hundred and sixty–six, and sections one, fifteen and fifteen A of chapter two hundred and seventy–three, and the crimes of malicious destruction of personal property under section one hundred and twenty–seven of chapter two hundred and sixty–six, indecent assault and battery on a child under fourteen years of age, offenses under section 13B of chapter 268, conspiracy under section 7 of chapter 274, solicitation to commit a felony under section 8 of said chapter 274, escape or attempt to escape from any penal institution, forgery of a promissory note, or of an order for money or other property, and of uttering as true such a forged note or order, knowing the same to be forged. They shall have jurisdiction of proceedings referred to them under the provisions of section four A of chapter two hundred and eleven.

Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 212, § 6 Jurisdiction — Criminal Jurisdiction.

Section 6. The court shall have original jurisdiction of all crimes. Crimes committed in that part of Scituate described in chapter three hundred and ninety-four of the acts of nineteen

+ See more
hundred and twelve shall be within the territorial jurisdiction of the court both in Norfolk county and in Plymouth county, and arrests and service of process in such cases may be made by an officer qualified to serve criminal process in Cohasset. Crimes committed in any part of Cambridge, Watertown or Newton lying in the Charles river basin shall be within the territorial jurisdiction of the court both in Middlesex county and in Suffolk county.

Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, §§ 4, 19C District court jurisdiction; equity and powers and rules

Section 4. District courts shall be courts of record. They shall be courts of superior and general jurisdiction with reference to all cases and matters in which they have jurisdiction,

+ See more
and no order, decree, judgment, sentence, warrant, writ or process made, issued or pronounced by them need set out any adjudication or circumstances with greater particularity than would be required in other courts of superior and general jurisdiction, and the like presumption shall be made in favor of proceedings of such courts as would be made in favor of proceedings of other courts of superior and general jurisdiction. Each district court shall have a seal, which shall be in the custody of its clerk, and shall be affixed to all processes issued by such court requiring a seal.

Section 19C. The district court and Boston municipal court departments of the trial court shall have the same equitable powers and jurisdiction as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 214 and the same authority with regard to declaratory judgments as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 231A for the purpose of the hearing and disposition of summary process actions and of civil actions for money damages under section 19 of this chapter. The district courts shall have original jurisdiction in rem and personam of all actions arising under sections one hundred and twenty-seven A to one hundred and twenty-seven K, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and eleven. The district courts shall have equity powers only to the extent necessary to enforce the aforementioned sections, including the power to appoint receivers, grant injunctions and issue restraining orders as justice and equity may require and for punishing civil contempt of orders, rulings and decrees made or pronounced in the exercise of this jurisdiction. Subject to the approval of the supreme judicial court, the chief justice for the district court department may from time to time promulgate rules and prescribe forms for the efficient operation of such equity sessions in the courts of the district court department; and in the Boston municipal court department the chief justice for said department may promulgate such rules and prescribe such forms. Section 19C. The district court and Boston municipal court departments of the trial court shall have the same equitable powers and jurisdiction as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 214 and the same authority with regard to declaratory judgments as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 231A for the purpose of the hearing and disposition of summary process actions and of civil actions for money damages under section 19 of this chapter. The district courts shall have original jurisdiction in rem and personam of all actions arising under sections one hundred and twenty-seven A to one hundred and twenty-seven K, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and eleven. The district courts shall have equity powers only to the extent necessary to enforce the aforementioned sections, including the power to appoint receivers, grant injunctions and issue restraining orders as justice and equity may require and for punishing civil contempt of orders, rulings and decrees made or pronounced in the exercise of this jurisdiction. Subject to the approval of the supreme judicial court, the chief justice for the district court department may from time to time promulgate rules and prescribe forms for the efficient operation of such equity sessions in the courts of the district court department; and in the Boston municipal court department the chief justice for said department may promulgate such rules and prescribe such forms.

Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 59 Juvenile Ct — Powers, Duties and Procedure.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the divisions of the juvenile court department shall have and exercise, within their respective jurisdictions, the same powers, duties, and procedure as the divisions

+ See more
of the district court department; and all laws relating to district courts or municipal courts in their respective counties or officials thereof or proceedings therein, shall, so far as applicable, apply to said divisions of the juvenile court department.

The divisions of the juvenile court department shall also have jurisdiction in equity concurrent with the supreme judicial court and with the superior court department in all cases and matters arising under the provisions of chapters 119 and 210.

Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 211A, § 1 Court Established; Justices.

There shall be an intermediate appellate court to be known as the appeals court. The appeals court shall consist of a chief justice and twenty-four associate justices.

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Massachusetts Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276A, § 2 Jurisdiction — District Courts and Boston Municipal Court; Offender's Qualifications for Diversion.

The district courts, and in Boston, the municipal court of the city of Boston, shall have jurisdiction to divert to a program, as defined in section one, any person who

+ See more
is charged with an offense or offenses against the commonwealth for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed and over which the district courts may exercise final jurisdiction and who has not previously been convicted of a violation of any law of the commonwealth or of any other state or of the United States in any criminal court proceeding after having reached the age of 18 years, except for traffic violations for which no term of imprisonment may have been imposed, who does not have any outstanding warrants, continuances, appeals or criminal cases pending before any courts of the commonwealth or any other state or of the United States, and who has received a recommendation from a program that he would, in light of the capacities of and guidelines governing it, benefit from participation in said program.

Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Massachusetts Mass. Const. Pt. 2, C. 3, art. IV Provisions for Holding Probate Courts.

The judges of probate of wills, and for granting letters of administration, shall hold their courts at such place or places, on fixed days, as the convenience of the people

+ See more
shall require; and the legislature shall, from time to time, hereafter appoint such times and places; until which appointments, the said courts shall be holden at the times and places which the respective judges shall direct.

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Jersey N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2B:12-1; N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2B:12-17 Municipal court jurisdiction
A municipal court has jurisdiction over the following cases within the territorial jurisdiction of the court: a. Violations of county or municipal ordinances; b. Violations of the motor vehicle and
+ See more
traffic laws; c. Disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses and other non-indictable offenses except where exclusive jurisdiction is given to the Superior Court; d. Violations of the fish and game laws; e. Proceedings to collect a penalty where jurisdiction is granted by statute; f. Violations of laws regulating boating; and g. Any other proceedings where jurisdiction is granted by statute; A municipal court has jurisdiction over the following cases within the territorial jurisdiction of the court: a. Violations of county or municipal ordinances; b. Violations of the motor vehicle and traffic laws; c. Disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses and other non-indictable offenses except where exclusive jurisdiction is given to the Superior Court; d. Violations of the fish and game laws; e. Proceedings to collect a penalty where jurisdiction is granted by statute; f. Violations of laws regulating boating; and g. Any other proceedings where jurisdiction is granted by statute.
Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Jersey N.J. Const. art. VI, § 3 State superior court jurisdiction
The Superior Court shall consist of such number of judges as may be authorized by law, each of whom shall exercise the powers of the court subject to rules of the
+ See more
Supreme Court. The Superior Court shall at all times consist of at least two judges who shall be assigned to sit in each of the counties of this State, and who are resident therein at the time of appointment and reappointment. The Superior Court shall have original general jurisdiction throughout the State in all causes
Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Jersey N.J. Const. art. VI, § 3 appellate court jurisdiction
The Superior Court shall be divided into an Appellate Division, a Law Division, and a Chancery Division, which shall include a family part. Each division shall have such other parts, consist of
+ See more
such number of judges, and hear such causes, as may be provided by rules of the Supreme Court. At least two judges of the Superior Court shall at all times be assigned to sit in each of the counties of the State, who at the time of their appointment and reappointment were residents of that county provided, however, that the number of judges required to reside in the county wherein they sit shall be at least equal in number to the number of judges of the county court sitting in each of the counties at the adoption of this amendment.
Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Jersey N.J. Const. art. VI, § 1 Supreme Court jurisdiction
The judicial power shall be vested in a Supreme Court, a Superior Court, and other courts of limited jurisdiction. The other courts and their jurisdiction may from time to time
+ See more
be established, altered or abolished by law.
Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Stat. Ann. § 34-8A-1 Metropolitan court; established

There is established within the boundaries of a class A county with a population of more than two hundred fifty thousand persons in the last federal decennial census the “metropolitan

+ See more
court”. The name of the metropolitan district is the same as the name of the county in which it is located.

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Const. art. VI, § 1 Judicial power vested

The judicial power of the state shall be vested in the senate when sitting as a court of impeachment, a supreme court, a court of appeals, district courts; probate courts,

+ See more
magistrate courts and such other courts inferior to the district courts as may be established by law from time to time in any district, county or municipality of the state.

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Const. art. VI, § 1 Judicial power vested

The judicial power of the state shall be vested in the senate when sitting as a court of impeachment, a supreme court, a court of appeals, district courts; probate courts,

+ See more
magistrate courts and such other courts inferior to the district courts as may be established by law from time to time in any district, county or municipality of the state.

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Const. art. VI, § 1 Judicial power vested

The judicial power of the state shall be vested in the senate when sitting as a court of impeachment, a supreme court, a court of appeals, district courts; probate courts,

+ See more
magistrate courts and such other courts inferior to the district courts as may be established by law from time to time in any district, county or municipality of the state.

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Const. art. VI, § 1 Judicial power vested

The judicial power of the state shall be vested in the senate when sitting as a court of impeachment, a supreme court, a court of appeals, district courts; probate courts,

+ See more
magistrate courts and such other courts inferior to the district courts as may be established by law from time to time in any district, county or municipality of the state.

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Const. art. VI, § 1 Judicial power vested

The judicial power of the state shall be vested in the senate when sitting as a court of impeachment, a supreme court, a court of appeals, district courts; probate courts,

+ See more
magistrate courts and such other courts inferior to the district courts as may be established by law from time to time in any district, county or municipality of the state.

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Stat. Ann. § 35-1-1 Magistrate court; establishment

There is established the “magistrate court” as a court of limited original jurisdiction within the judicial department of the state government. Personnel of the magistrate court are subject to all

+ See more
laws and regulations applicable to other state offices and agencies and to other state officers and employees except where otherwise provided by law. The magistrate court is not a court of record

Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Const. art. VI, § 23 Probate court

A probate court is hereby established for each county, which shall be a court of record, and, until otherwise provided by law, shall have the same jurisdiction as heretofore exercised

+ See more
by the probate courts of New Mexico and shall also have jurisdiction to determine heirship with respect to real property in all proceedings for the administration of decedents' estates. The legislature shall have power from time to time to confer upon the probate court in any county in this state jurisdiction to determine heirship in all probate proceedings, and shall have power also from time to time to confer upon the probate court in any county in this state general civil jurisdiction coextensive with the county; provided, however, that such court shall not have jurisdiction in civil causes in which the matter in controversy shall exceed in value three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) exclusive of interest and cost; nor in any action for malicious prosecution, slander and libel; nor in any action against officers for misconduct in office; nor in any action for the specific performance of contracts for the sale of real estate; nor in any action for the possession of land; nor in any matter wherein the title or boundaries of land may be in dispute or drawn in question, except as title to real property may be affected by the determination of heirship; nor to grant writs of injunction, habeas corpus or extraordinary writs. Jurisdiction may be conferred upon the judges of said court to act as examining and committing magistrates in criminal cases, and upon said courts for the trial of misdemeanors in which the punishment cannot be imprisonment in the penitentiary, or in which the fine cannot be in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000). A jury for the trial of such cases shall consist of six men. The legislature shall prescribe the qualifications and fix the compensation of probate judges

Creation of the courts, Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

New Mexico N.M. Const. art. VI, § 2 Supreme court; appellate jurisdiction

Appeals from a judgment of the district court imposing a sentence of death or life imprisonment shall be taken directly to the supreme court. In all other cases, criminal and

+ See more
civil, the supreme court shall exercise appellate jurisdiction as may be provided by law; provided that an aggrieved party shall have an absolute right to one appeal.

Jurisdiction of the courts