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

86 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

Pennsylvania 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 301 Unified judicial system
The judicial power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a unified judicial system consisting of the:(1) Supreme Court.(2) Superior Court.(3) Commonwealth Court.(4) Courts of common pleas.(5) Community courts.(6) Philadelphia
+ See more
Municipal Court.(7) Pittsburgh Magistrates Court.(8) Traffic Court of Philadelphia.(9) Magisterial district judges. All courts and magisterial district judges and their jurisdiction shall be in this unified judicial system.
Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Pennsylvania 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 1123 Jurisdiction and venue - Philadelphia Municipal Court
(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise prescribed by any general rule adopted pursuant to section 503 (relating to reassignment of matters), the Philadelphia Municipal Court shall have jurisdiction of the following
+ See more
matters:(1) Summary offenses, except those arising out of the same episode or transaction involving a delinquent act for which a petition alleging delinquency is filed under Chapter 63 (relating to juvenile matters). (2) Criminal offenses by any person (other than a juvenile) for which no prison term may be imposed or which are punishable by imprisonment for a term of not more than five years, including indictable offenses under Title 75 (relating to vehicles). In cases under this paragraph the defendant shall have no right of trial by jury in the municipal court, but shall have the right of appeal for trial de novo, including the right of trial by jury, to the court of common pleas. The judges of the municipal court exercising jurisdiction under this paragraph shall have the same jurisdiction in probation and parole arising out of sentences imposed by them as judges of the court of common pleas. (3) Matters arising under the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L. 69, No. 20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951.1 The judges of the Philadelphia Municipal Court shall have the power to enter judgments exceeding $5,000 in matters arising under this subsection. Appeals from a judgment of the municipal court under this subsection shall be to the court of common pleas in accordance with local rules of court established by the administrative judge of the trial division. Those rules shall not be inconsistent with Statewide rules of procedure as established by the Supreme Court. (4) Civil actions, except actions by or against a Commonwealth party as defined by section 8501 (relating to definitions), wherein the sum demanded does not exceed $12,000, exclusive of interest and costs, in the following classes of actions: (i) In assumpsit. (ii) In trespass, including all forms of trespass and trespass on the case. (iii) For fines and penalties by any government agency. A plaintiff may waive a portion of his claim of more than $12,000 so as to bring the matter within the monetary jurisdiction of the municipal court. Such waiver shall be revoked automatically if the defendant appeals the final order of the municipal court. In cases under this paragraph the defendant shall have no right of trial by jury in the municipal court, but shall have the right to appeal for trial de novo, including the right of trial by jury, to the court of common pleas, in accordance with local rules of court established by the administrative judge of the trial division. These rules shall not be inconsistent with Statewide rules of procedure as established by the Supreme Court. It is the purpose of this paragraph to establish an expeditious small claims procedure whereby it shall not be necessary for the litigants to obtain counsel. Judgments by confession shall not be entered in the municipal court. (5) As commissioners to preside at arraignments, fix and accept bail, issue warrants and perform duties of a similar nature, including the jurisdiction of a committing magistrate in all criminal proceedings. In addition to the exercise of the powers by the judges set forth in this paragraph, the Philadelphia Municipal Court, through the president judge and a majority of the judges of the court, shall have the power to appoint for four-year terms six arraignment court magistrates, to administer oaths and affirmations, preside at preliminary arraignments, assign counsel in certain cases, issue criminal complaints, fix bail and issue arrest warrants and search and seizure warrants. The arraignment court magistrates shall be employees of the Commonwealth and they shall receive an annual salary equal to the salary of an associate judge of the Traffic Court of Philadelphia. The method of selection and appointment and removal of arraignment court magistrates and establishing standards of conduct and the rights, responsibilities and authority of the arraignment court magistrates and the procedures for appealing from the decisions of the arraignment court magistrates shall be provided by local rules adopted by the municipal court. (5.1) In addition to the exercise of the powers by the judges set forth in this section, the President Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court may appoint arraignment court magistrates, persons who complete a training program as shall be provided by local rules adopted by the President Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court, or attorneys who are in good standing and are admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar as judges pro tempore to accept guilty pleas and impose sentences in accordance with pleas for summary offenses. A judge pro tempore must be an independent contractor hired by the Philadelphia Municipal Court and shall receive such compensation and shall serve at such hours as agreed to between the judge pro tempore and the President Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court. The methods of selection, appointment and removal of judges pro tempore and of establishing standards of conduct and the rights, responsibilities and authority of the judges pro tempore and the procedures for appealing decisions of the judges pro tempore shall be provided by local rules adopted by the President Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court. (6) Civil actions wherein the sum demanded does not exceed $15,000 in matters involving judgments of real estate taxes and school taxes levied by cities of the first class. (7) Actions to enjoin any nuisance caused by the operation of a licensee or occurring on licensed premises subject to the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L. 90, No. 21), known as the Liquor Code.2 (8) Any action to enjoin a public nuisance. The action to enjoin may be brought by any person who resides or has a place of business within 500 feet of the location of the alleged nuisance. (9) Prosecutions for summary offenses arising under: (i) Title 75; or (ii) an ordinance of a political subdivision enacted pursuant to Title 75. (a.1) Appeal from contempt citation or nuisance order.--There shall be a right to appeal to the Superior Court of a contempt citation issued by a municipal court judge, but the appeal shall be limited to a review of the record. There shall be a right of appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County of an order issued by a municipal court judge in any action under subsection (a)(7) or (8), but the appeal shall be limited to a review of the record. (b) Concurrent and exclusive jurisdiction.--The jurisdiction of the municipal court under this section shall be concurrent with the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County except with respect to matters specified in subsection (a)(2), as to which the jurisdiction of the municipal court shall be exclusive except as otherwise prescribed by any general rule adopted pursuant to section 503.
Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Pennsylvania 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 1143 Pittsburg Magistrates Court - jurisdiction and venue
(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise prescribed by any general rule adopted pursuant to section 503 (relating to reassignment of matters) the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court shall have jurisdiction of all of
+ See more
the following matters:(1) Criminal complaints accusing any person of the commission of any felony or misdemeanor, where such felony or misdemeanor has been committed within the corporate limits of the City of Pittsburgh, and to issue warrants for the arrest of such person so accused, administer oaths and hold preliminary hearings in all such cases, and commit to jail, or bind over for trial or discharge such accused person, as the evidence produced at such hearing may warrant. The court shall have power to admit to bail as prescribed by general rules. (2) Arrests upon view, or upon complaint made and warrant issued, by the police of the City of Pittsburgh, of persons who may be found engaged in or be charged with drunkenness, disorderly conduct, selling liquor contrary to law, maintaining a disorderly house or bawdy house, lewd, indecent or lascivious behavior on the streets or elsewhere, gambling, creating riots or disturbances, vagrants, beggars, prostitutes, disturbers of the public peace, known or reputed pickpockets, burglars, thieves, watch stuffers, cheating, swindling, persons who abuse their families, and suspicious persons who can give no reasonable account of themselves, or violating any of the laws or ordinances of such city. (3) Civil claims for the recovery of fines and penalties imposed by any ordinance of the City of Pittsburgh, or by any ordinance or regulation relating to housing and health administered and enforced by a county health department where a violation takes place in such city, and cases of summary conviction arising under the laws and ordinances of or applicable to such city and under the laws, ordinances, rules and regulations relating to housing and health administered and enforced by a county department of health where a violation takes place in such city, with full power to hear the said cases, administer oaths or affirmations therein, decide the same, enforce the penalty, collect the fine or commit to prison as the case may be according to the provisions of the law and ordinances applicable thereto. (4) Matters within the jurisdiction of the court when sitting as the Traffic Court of Pittsburgh.
Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Pennsylvania 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 1302 (West) Traffic court - jurisdiction and venue
(a) General rule.--Except as set forth in subsection (a.1) or as otherwise prescribed by any general rule adopted pursuant to section 503 (relating to reassignment of matters), each traffic court
+ See more
shall have jurisdiction of all prosecutions for summary offenses arising under:(1) Title 75 (relating to vehicles). (2) Any ordinance of any political subdivision enacted pursuant to Title 75.
Jurisdiction of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Pennsylvania 42 Pa. Stat. and Cons. Stat. Ann. § 1341 Third class city traffic courts authorized
Any city of the third class may establish by ordinance a traffic court which shall be a court not of record. The court shall be held by such of the
+ See more
magisterial district judges of the city as shall be designated by the president judge of the court of common pleas upon petition by the city. If established, the court shall be for the city so establishing it.
Creation of the courts
BS-+-Light-Rounded-Square
Add to Dashboard

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Const. Art. 5 Sec. 1 Judicial power; courts in which vested

The judicial power of this State shall be vested in one Supreme Court, in one Court of Criminal Appeals, in Courts of Appeals, in District Courts, in County Courts, in

+ See more
Commissioners Courts, in Courts of Justices of the Peace, and in such other courts as may be provided by law.

The Legislature may establish such other courts as it may deem necessary and prescribe the jurisdiction and organization thereof, and may conform the jurisdiction of the district and other inferior courts thereto.

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

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Con. Art. 5 Sec. 19 Justices of the peace; jurisdiction; appeals; ex officio notaries public; times and places of holding court

Justice of the peace courts shall have original jurisdiction in criminal matters of misdemeanor cases punishable by fine only, exclusive jurisdiction in civil matters where the amount in controversy is

+ See more
two hundred dollars or less, and such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law. Justices of the peace shall be ex officio notaries public.

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

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §26.045 Original Criminal Jurisdiction

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a county court has exclusive original jurisdiction of misdemeanors other than misdemeanors involving official misconduct and cases in which the highest fine that

+ See more
may be imposed is $500 or less.

(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a county court has jurisdiction in the forfeiture and final judgment of bonds and recognizances taken in criminal cases within the court's jurisdiction.

(c) Except as provided by Subsections (d) and (f), a county court that is in a county with a criminal district court does not have any criminal jurisdiction.

(d) A county court in a county with a population of 1.75 million or more has original jurisdiction over cases alleging a violation of Section 25.093, Education Code, or alleging truant conduct under Section 65.003(a), Family Code.

(e) Subsections (c) and (d) do not affect the jurisdiction of a statutory county court.

(f) A county court has concurrent jurisdiction with a municipal court in cases that arise in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction and that arise under an ordinance of the municipality applicable to the extraterritorial jurisdiction under Section 216.902, Local Government Code.

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

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Gov't. Code § 22.001. Jurisdiction

(a) The supreme court has appellate jurisdiction, except in criminal law matters, of an appealable order or judgment of the trial courts if the court determines that the appeal presents

+ See more
a question of law that is important to the jurisprudence of the state. The supreme court's jurisdiction does not include cases in which the jurisdiction of the court of appeals is made final by statute.
(b) A case over which the court has jurisdiction under Subsection (a) may be carried to the supreme court by petition for review.

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

+ Create New

Texas Jurisdiction of District Court Tex. Const. Art. 5 Sec. 8

District Court jurisdiction consists of exclusive, appellate, and original jurisdiction of all actions, proceedings, and remedies, except in cases where exclusive, appellate, or original jurisdiction may be conferred by this

+ See more
Constitution or other law on some other court, tribunal, or administrative body. District Court judges shall have the power to issue writs necessary to enforce their jurisdiction.
The District Court shall have appellate jurisdiction and general supervisory control over the County Commissioners Court, with such exceptions and under such regulations as may be prescribed by law.

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

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Gov't. Code § 29.003 Jurisdiction

(a) A municipal court, including a municipal court of record, shall have exclusive original jurisdiction within the municipality's territorial limits and property owned by the municipality located in the municipality's

+ See more
extraterritorial jurisdiction in all criminal cases that:
(1) arise under:
(A) the ordinances of the municipality; or
(B) a resolution, rule, or order of a joint board operating an airport under Section 22.074, Transportation Code; and
(2) are punishable by a fine not to exceed:
(A) $2,000 in all cases arising under municipal ordinances or resolutions, rules, or orders of a joint board that govern fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, other than the dumping of refuse;
(B) $4,000 in cases arising under municipal ordinances that govern the dumping of refuse; or
(C) $500 in all other cases arising under a municipal ordinance or a resolution, rule, or order of a joint board.
(b) The municipal court has concurrent jurisdiction with the justice court of a precinct in which the municipality is located in all criminal cases arising under state law that arise within the municipality's territorial limits or property owned by the municipality located in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction and that:
(1) are punishable only by a fine, as defined in Subsection (c); or
(2) arise under Chapter 106, Alcoholic Beverage Code, and do not include confinement as an authorized sanction.

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

+ Create New

Texas Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 4.01 What Courts Have Criminal Jurisdiction

The following courts have jurisdiction in criminal actions:
1. The Court of Criminal Appeals;
2. Courts of appeals;
3. The district courts;
4. The criminal district courts;
5. The magistrates

+ See more
appointed by the judges of the district courts of Bexar County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, or Travis County that give preference to criminal cases and the magistrates appointed by the judges of the criminal district courts of Dallas County or Tarrant County;
6. The county courts;
7. All county courts at law with criminal jurisdiction;
8. County criminal courts;
9. Justice courts;
10. Municipal courts;
11. The magistrates appointed by the judges of the district courts of Lubbock County; and
12. The magistrates appointed by the El Paso Council of Judges.

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

+ Create New

Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.04.010 Jurisdiction

The supreme court shall have original jurisdiction in habeas corpus and quo warrantor and mandamus as to all state officers, and appellate jurisdiction in all actions and proceedings excepting that

+ See more
its appellate jurisdiction shall not extend to civil actions at law for the recovery of money or personal property when the original amount in controversy or the value of the property does not exceed the sum of two hundred dollars, unless the action involves the legality of a tax, impost, assessment, toll, municipal fine, or the validity of a statute. The supreme court shall also have power to issue writs of mandamus, review, prohibition, habeas corpus, certiorari, and all other writs necessary and proper to the complete exercise of its appellate and revisory jurisdiction. Each of the judges shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus to any part of the state, upon petition by or on behalf of any person held in actual custody, and may make such writs returnable before himself or herself, or before the supreme court, or before any superior court of the state, or any judge thereof.

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

+ Create New

Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.06.030 General powers and authority--Transfers of cases--Appellate jurisdiction, exceptions--Appeals

Subject to the provisions of this section, the court shall have exclusive appellate jurisdiction in all cases except:(a) cases of quo warrantor, prohibition, injunction or mandamus directed to state officials;

+ See more
(b) criminal cases where the death penalty has been decreed; (c) cases where the validity of all or any portion of a statute, ordinance, tax, impost, assessment or toll is drawn into question on the grounds of repugnancy to the Constitution of the United States or of the state of Washington, or to a statute or treaty of the United States, and the superior court has held against its validity; (d) cases involving fundamental and urgent issues of broad public import requiring prompt and ultimate determination; and (e) cases involving substantive issues on which there is a direct conflict among prevailing decisions of panels of the court or between decisions of the supreme court;

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

+ Create New

Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.08.010 Original jurisdiction

The superior court shall have original jurisdiction in all cases in equity, and in all cases at law which involve the title or possession of real property, or the legality

+ See more
of any tax, impost, assessment, toll or municipal fine, and in all other cases in which the demand or the value of the property in controversy amounts to three hundred dollars, and in all criminal cases amounting to felony, and in all cases of misdemeanor not otherwise provided for by law; of actions of forcible entry and detainer; of proceedings in insolvency; of actions to prevent or abate a nuisance; of all matters of probate, of divorce and for annulment of marriage, and for such special cases and proceedings as are not otherwise provided for; and shall also have original jurisdiction in all cases and of all proceedings in which jurisdiction shall not have been by law vested exclusively in some other court, and shall have the power of naturalization and to issue papers therefor. Said courts and their judges shall have power to issue writs of mandamus, quo warrantor, review, certiorari, prohibition and writs of habeas corpus on petition by or on behalf of any person in actual custody in their respective counties. Injunctions and writs of prohibition and of habeas corpus may be issued on legal holidays and nonjudicial days.

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

+ Create New

Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.08.020 Appellate jurisdiction

The superior courts shall have such appellate jurisdiction in cases arising in courts of limited jurisdiction in their respective counties as may be prescribed by law.

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

+ Create New

Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.30.010(1) Findings--Scope of therapeutic court programs

The legislature finds that judges in the trial courts throughout the state effectively utilize what are known as therapeutic courts to remove a defendant's or respondent's case from the criminal

+ See more
and civil court traditional trial track and allow those defendants or respondents the opportunity to obtain treatment services to address particular issues that may have contributed to the conduct that led to their arrest or other issues before the court. Trial courts have proved adept at creative approaches in fashioning a wide variety of therapeutic courts addressing the spectrum of social issues that can contribute to criminal activity and engagement with the child welfare system.

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

+ Create New

Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 3.66.060 Criminal jurisdiction

The district court shall have jurisdiction: (1) Concurrent with the superior court of all misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors committed in their respective counties and of all violations of city ordinances.

+ See more
It shall in no event impose a greater punishment than a fine of five thousand dollars, or imprisonment for one year in the county or city jail as the case may be, or both such fine and imprisonment, unless otherwise expressly provided by statute. It may suspend and revoke vehicle operators' licenses in the cases provided by law; (2) to sit as a committing magistrate and conduct preliminary hearings in cases provided by law; (3) concurrent with the superior court of a proceeding to keep the peace in their respective counties; (4) concurrent with the superior court of all violations under Title 77 RCW; (5) to hear and determine traffic infractions under chapter 46.63 RCW; and (6) to take recognizance, approve bail, and arraign defendants held within its jurisdiction on warrants issued by other courts of limited jurisdiction when those courts are participating in the program established under RCW 2.56.160.

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

+ Create New

Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 3.50.010 Municipal court authorized in cities of four hundred thousand or less

Any city or town with a population of four hundred thousand or less may by ordinance provide for an inferior court to be known and designated as a municipal court,

+ See more
which shall be entitled “The Municipal Court of .......... (insert name of city or town)”, hereinafter designated and referred to as “municipal court”, which court shall have jurisdiction and shall exercise all powers by this chapter declared to be vested in the municipal court, together with such other powers and jurisdiction as are generally conferred upon such court in this state either by common law or by express statute.

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

+ Create New

Washington Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 3.50.020 Jurisdiction

The municipal court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over traffic infractions arising under city ordinances and exclusive original criminal jurisdiction of all violations of city ordinances duly adopted by the

+ See more
city and shall have original jurisdiction of all other actions brought to enforce or recover license penalties or forfeitures declared or given by such ordinances or by state statutes. A hosting jurisdiction shall have exclusive original criminal and other jurisdiction as described in this section for all matters filed by a contracting city. The municipal court shall also have the jurisdiction as conferred by statute. The municipal court is empowered to forfeit cash bail or bail bonds and issue execution thereon; and in general to hear and determine all causes, civil or criminal, including traffic infractions, arising under such ordinances and to pronounce judgment in accordance therewith. A municipal court participating in the program established by the administrative office of the courts pursuant to RCW 2.56.160 shall have jurisdiction to take recognizance, approve bail, and arraign defendants held within its jurisdiction on warrants issued by any court of limited jurisdiction participating in the program.

Jurisdiction of the courts