Keyword search across all of the laws in the states. Subject-area tabs above allow you to narrow results. Click the advanced search for further refinement.
Every law can be saved to the Reform Builder
See conflicts of interest policy recommendations in CJPP’s Policy Guide
Below are all of the laws that govern the structure of courts that match your search criteria.
19 Results
State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Court/legal body | Function | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Add to Dashboard
|
Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 7 | General jurisdiction; control of records |
The Supreme Judicial Court may exercise its jurisdiction according to the common law not inconsistent with the Constitution or any statute, and may punish contempts against its authority by fine and imprisonment, or either, and administer oaths. It has general superintendence of all inferior courts for the prevention and correction of errors and abuses where the law does not expressly provide a remedy and has control of all records and documents in the custody of its clerks. Whenever justice or the public good requires, it may order the expunging from the records and papers on file in any case which has gone to judgment of any name or other part thereof unnecessary to the purpose and effect of said judgment. It may issue all writs and processes, not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court, necessary for the furtherance of justice or the execution of the laws in the name of the State under the seal of said court, attested by any justice not a party or interested in the suit and signed by the clerk.
|
Supreme Judicial Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
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.
|
Superior Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
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 |
Add to Dashboard
|
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 |
Add to Dashboard
|
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.
|
Supreme Judicial Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
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 |
Add to Dashboard
|
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.
|
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
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.
|
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
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.
|
Judicial power generally | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
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.
|
Court of appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
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 |
Add to Dashboard
|
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.
|
southern district court of appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 477.070 | Territorial jurisdiction of the western district court of appeals |
The jurisdiction of the western district of the court of appeals shall be coextensive with all the counties in the state except those embraced in the jurisdiction of the eastern and the southern districts of the court of appeals.
|
western district court of apeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 477.050 | Territorial jurisdiction of the eastern district court of appeals |
The jurisdiction of the eastern district of the court of appeals shall be coextensive with the counties of Monroe, Shelby, Knox, Scotland, Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Lincoln, Montgomery, Warren, St. Charles, St. Louis, Jefferson, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, Cape Girardeau, Madison, St. Francois, Washington, Franklin, Audrain, Gasconade, Osage and the city of St. Louis.
|
Eastern district court of appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 478.070 | Jurisdiction of Circuit Courts |
The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction over all cases and matters, civil and criminal. Such courts may issue and determine original remedial writs. |
Circuit courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 479.010 | Violation of municipal ordinances, jurisdiction |
Violations of municipal ordinances shall be heard and determined only before divisions of the circuit court as hereinafter provided in this chapter. “Heard and determined”, for purposes of this chapter, shall mean any process under which the court in question retains the final authority to make factual determinations pertaining to allegations of a municipal ordinance violation, including, but not limited to, the use of a system of administrative adjudication as provided in section 479.011, preliminary to a determination by appeal to the court in question.
|
Municipal courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 478.07 | Jurisdiction of circuit courts |
The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction over all cases and matters, civil and criminal. Such courts may issue and determine original remedial writs.4 |
Circuit Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. §541.015 | Jurisdiction of associate circuit judges |
Associate circuit judges may hear and determine originally, with circuit judges, coextensive with their respective counties, all cases of misdemeanor and infractions as otherwise provided by law. |
Jurisdiction of the courts | |
Add to Dashboard
|
Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. § 541.02 | Jurisdiction of circuit courts |
Except as otherwise provided by law, the circuit courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases of felony, misdemeanor and infractions. Except as otherwise provided by law, circuit judges may hear and determine originally all cases of felony, misdemeanor and infractions and may hear and determine upon a trial de novo cases of misdemeanor and infractions.
|
Circuit Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |