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Structure of Courts
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Function
Below are all of the laws that govern the structure of courts that match your search criteria.
140 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Court/legal body | Function | |
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Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 114 | Authority of court |
The Superior Court may administer all necessary oaths, render judgment and issue execution, punish for contempt and compel attendance; and the provisions of law relative to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Judicial Court in each of said counties over parties, the arrest of persons, attachment of property, the time and mode of service of precepts, proceedings in court, the taxation of costs, the rendition of judgments, the issuing, service and return of executions and all other subjects apply to the Superior Court in all respects, except so far as they are modified by law, and the Superior Court is clothed with all the powers necessary for the performance of all its duties.
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Superior Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 15 § 1(1) | Superior Court; criminal jurisdiction |
The Superior Court has original jurisdiction, exclusive or concurrent, of all crimes. |
Superior Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 165(1),(3) | District court jurisdiction |
1. Crimes; Under One Year Imprisonment. The District Court has jurisdiction and, except as provided in Title 29-A, section 2602, concurrent jurisdiction with the Superior Court of all crimes, including violation of any statute or a bylaw of a town, village corporation or local health officer and breach of the peace, for which the maximum term of imprisonment to which the defendant may be sentenced upon conviction of that crime is less than one year.
3. Crimes; One Year or More Imprisonment. The District Court has, concurrent with the Superior Court, original jurisdiction to receive pleas of guilty in criminal cases, other than murder, in which: A. The maximum term of imprisonment to which the defendant may be sentenced upon conviction of that crime is one year or more; B. The defendant has in writing waived the defendant's right to indictment by grand jury and the defendant's right to a jury trial; and C. The defendant has indicated the defendant's intention to enter a plea of guilty to the charges pending against the defendant. When exercising such jurisdiction, the District Court possesses all of the powers of the Superior Court. The District Court shall exercise that jurisdiction in the manner that the Supreme Judicial Court by rule provides. Any person sentenced under this subsection is entitled to the rights provided by Title 15, chapter 306-A. |
District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 8 | Power to prescribe general rules |
The Supreme Judicial Court has the power to prescribe, by general rules, for the Probate, District and Superior Courts of Maine, the forms of process, writs, pleadings and motions and the practice and procedure in civil actions at law. Said rules may neither abridge, enlarge nor modify the substantive rights of any litigant. They take effect on such date not less than 6 months after their promulgation as the Supreme Judicial Court may fix. After their promulgation the Supreme Judicial Court may repeal, amend, modify or add to them from time to time with or without a waiting period. After the effective date of said rules as promulgated or amended, all laws in conflict therewith are of no further force or effect.
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Supreme Judicial Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 421 | Establishment |
The Judicial Department may establish alcohol and drug treatment programs in the Superior Courts and District Courts and may adopt administrative orders and court rules to govern the practice, procedure and administration of these programs. Alcohol and drug treatment programs must include local judges and must be community based and operated separately from juvenile drug courts.
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Alcohol and drug treatment court | Creation of the courts |
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Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 431 | Mental health treatment courts |
The Judicial Department may seek and receive grants to establish mental health treatment courts. |
Mental health treatment courts | Creation of the courts |
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Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 433(2) | Veterans treatment courts |
Chief Justice may establish. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may establish veterans treatment courts for veterans and members of the United States Armed Forces. The Supreme Judicial Court may adopt administrative orders and court rules of practice and procedure as necessary.
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Veterans treatment courts | Creation of the courts |
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Maine | M.R.S.A. Const. Art. 6, § 1 | Courts |
The judicial power of this State shall be vested in a Supreme Judicial Court, and such other courts as the Legislature shall from time to time establish. |
Courts generally | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Michigan | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 10 | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 10 | The jurisdiction of the court of appeals shall be provided by law and the practice and procedure therein shall be prescribed by rules of the supreme court. | Court of appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Michigan | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 13 | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 13 |
The circuit court shall have original jurisdiction in all matters not prohibited by law; appellate jurisdiction from all inferior courts and tribunals except as otherwise provided by law; power to + See moreissue, hear and determine prerogative and remedial writs; supervisory and general control over inferior courts and tribunals within their respective jurisdictions in accordance with rules of the supreme court; and jurisdiction of other cases and matters as provided by rules of the supreme court.
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Circuit Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Michigan | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 15 | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 15 |
In each county organized for judicial purposes there shall be a probate court. The legislature may create or alter probate court districts of more than one county if approved in + See moreeach affected county by a majority of the electors voting on the question. The legislature may provide for the combination of the office of probate judge with any judicial office of limited jurisdiction within a county with supplemental salary as provided by law. The jurisdiction, powers and duties of the probate court and of the judges thereof shall be provided by law. They shall have original jurisdiction in all cases of juvenile delinquents and dependents, except as otherwise provided by law.
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Probate court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Michigan | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 1 | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 1 |
The judicial power of the state is vested exclusively in one court of justice which shall be divided into one supreme court, one court of appeals, one trial court of + See moregeneral jurisdiction known as the circuit court, one probate court, and courts of limited jurisdiction . . .
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Judicial power | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Michigan | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 1 | Michigan State Constitution Article VI Sec. 1 |
The judicial power of the state is vested exclusively in one court of justice which shall be divided into one supreme court . . . and courts of limited jurisdiction + See morethat the legislature may establish by a two-thirds vote of the members elected to and serving in each house.
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Limited jurisdiction court | Creation of the courts |
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Missouri | Mo. Const. Art. 5, § 1 | Judicial Power - Constitutional Courts |
The judicial power of the state shall be vested in a supreme court, a court of appeals consisting of districts as prescribed by law, and circuit courts. |
Judicial power generally | Creation of the courts |
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Missouri | Mo. Const. Art. 5, § 2 | Supreme court--controlling decisions--number of judges--sessions |
The supreme court shall be the highest court in the state. Its jurisdiction shall be coextensive with the state. Its decisions shall be controlling in all other courts. It shall be composed of seven judges, who shall hold their sessions in Jefferson City at times fixed by the court.
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Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Missouri | Mo. Const. Art. 5, § 3 | Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court |
The supreme court shall have exclusive appellate jurisdiction in all cases involving the validity of a treaty or statute of the United States, or of a statute or provision of the constitution of this state, the construction of the revenue laws of this state, the title to any state office and in all cases where the punishment imposed is death. The court of appeals shall have general appellate jurisdiction in all cases except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the supreme court.
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Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Missouri | Mo. Const. Art. 5, § 4 | Superior courts to control inferior courts--courts administrator, salary--reapportionment commission, appointment |
The supreme court shall have general superintending control over all courts and tribunals. Each district of the court of appeals shall have general superintending control over all courts and tribunals in its jurisdiction. The supreme court and districts of the court of appeals may issue and determine original remedial writs. Supervisory authority over all courts is vested in the supreme court which may make appropriate delegations of this power.
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Judicial power generally | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Missouri | Mo. Const. Art. 5, § 13 | Court of Appeals, districts, judges |
The court of appeals shall be organized into separate districts, the number, not less than three, geographical boundaries, and territorial jurisdiction of which shall be prescribed by law. Each district of the court of appeals shall be composed of such number of judges, not less than three, as may be provided by law.
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Court of appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Missouri | Mo. Const. Art. 5, § 14 | Circuit courts--jurisdiction--sessions |
(a) The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction over all cases and matters, civil and criminal. Such courts may issue and determine original remedial writs and shall sit at times and places within the circuit as determined by the circuit court.
(b) Procedures for the adjudication of small claims shall be as provided by law. |
Circuit courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 477.060 | Territorial jurisdiction of the southern district court of appeals |
The jurisdiction of the southern district of the court of appeals shall be coextensive with the counties of Barry, Barton, Butler, Camden, Cedar, Carter, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Howell, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Ozark, Oregon, Polk, Pulaski, Phelps, Ripley, St. Clair, Shannon, Stone, Texas, Taney, Webster, Wright, Dent, Crawford, Maries, Reynolds, Iron, Wayne, Bollinger, Scott, Stoddard, Dunklin, Pemiscot, New Madrid and Mississippi.
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southern district court of appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |