Criminal Justice Policy Program at Harvard Law School
50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
50-State Criminal Justice Debt Reform Builder Bringing transparency to areas of significant legal complexity.
Structure of Courts
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
Function
Below are all of the laws that govern the structure of courts that match your search criteria.
20 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Court/legal body | Function | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | LA RS §13:101. | Supreme court jurisdiction | The state shall be divided into seven supreme court districts. The supreme court shall be composed of one justice elected from each of the seven districts as set forth below: | Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | LA RS §13:312. | Court of appeals circuits | There shall be five court of appeal circuits, which shall be subdivided into districts as follows: | Courts of Appeal | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | LA RS §13:477 | District Court | There shall be forty-one judicial districts in the state and each district shall be composed as follows: | District Courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | LA RS §13:1335 | Parish of Orleans District court | There shall be one criminal district court for the parish of Orleans, which shall be composed of twelve judges. | Criminal District Court for Orleans Parish | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | LA RS §13:1445 | Parish court - juvenile jurisdiction |
The parish court shall be a juvenile court for the parish and shall exercise jurisdiction, concurrent with that of the district court, over juvenile matters, except where a separate juvenile + See moreor family court with exclusive jurisdiction is established by law.
|
Juvenile Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | LA RS §13:446 | Parish court - criminal jurisdiction |
A. The parish court shall have criminal jurisdiction over all violations of state law and parish or municipal ordinances committed within its territorial jurisdiction which are punishable by a fine + See morenot exceeding one thousand dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. This jurisdiction shall be concurrent with any jurisdiction conferred by law upon the district court.
B. As to all other violations of state law or of a parish or municipal ordinance, the parish court shall have the power to issue warrants of arrest, to examine, commit, admit to bail and discharge, and to hold preliminary examinations in all cases not capital.
|
Parish District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | LA RS § 15:1097 | Youth court - territorial jurisdiction |
A. The Ware Youth Center Authority is hereby established as a political subdivision of the state, with a territorial jurisdiction throughout the parishes of Claiborne, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, + See moreand Webster. If the governing authority of Claiborne Parish or the governing authority of Webster Parish elects to withdraw its respective parish from the district, the territorial jurisdiction of the district shall not include such parish or parishes.
|
Ware Youth Center (juvenile court) | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | La. Const. Art. 3 Sec. 1 | Judicial power | The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, courts of appeal, district courts, and other courts authorized by this Article. | Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | La. Const. Art. 3 Sec. 8 | Court of appeals circuits - panels |
Section 8.(A) Circuits; Panels. The state shall be divided into at least four circuits, with one court of appeal in each. Each court shall sit in panels of at least + See morethree judges selected according to rules adopted by the court.
|
Courts of Appeal (5) | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | La RS 13:1401 | Family court |
A. There is hereby established the family court for the parish of East Baton Rouge, which shall be a court of record with exclusive jurisdiction in the following proceedings:
(1) + See more All actions for divorce, annulment of marriages, claims for contributions made by one spouse to the education or training of the other spouse, establishment or disavowal of the paternity of children, spousal and child support and nonsupport, and custody and visitation of children, as well as of all matters incidental to any of the foregoing proceedings, including but not restricted to the issuance of conservatory writs for the protection of community property, the awarding of attorney fees in judgments of divorce, the accumulation of and rendering executory of spousal and child support, the issuance of writs of fieri facias and garnishment under judgments of the court for spousal and child support and attorney fees, jurisdiction of which was vested in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court for the parish of East Baton Rouge prior to the establishment of the family court for the parish of East Baton Rouge.
|
Family Court for East Baton Rouge | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
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 moretraffic 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.
|
Municipal Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
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 moreSupreme 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
|
State Superior Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
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 moresuch 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.
|
Appellate Division | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
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 morebe established, altered or abolished by law.
|
New Jersey Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Const. Art. V, Sec. 2 | Supreme court generally; appellate jurisdiction |
The supreme court shall have general appellate jurisdiction, co-extensive with the state, in both civil and criminal causes, and shall have a general superintending control over all inferior courts, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by law.
|
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Const. Art. V, Sec. 10 | District courts generally; jurisdiction |
The district court shall have original jurisdiction of all causes both at law and in equity and in all criminal cases, of all matters of probate and insolvency and of such special cases and proceedings as are not otherwise provided for. The district court 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 said court shall have the power of naturalization and to issue papers therefor. They shall have such appellate jurisdiction in cases arising in justices' and other inferior courts in their respective counties as may be prescribed by law. Said courts and their judges shall have power to issue writs of mandamus, quo warranto, review, certiorari, prohibition, injunction and writs of habeas corpus, on petition by or on behalf of any person in actual custody in their respective districts.
|
District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-3-101 | Judicial districts enumerated; terms of court |
(a) The state of Wyoming is divided into judicial districts as follows: (i) The county of Laramie is the first judicial district; (ii) The counties of Albany and Carbon are the second judicial district; (iii) The counties of Sweetwater, Lincoln and Uinta are the third judicial district;
(iv) The counties of Johnson and Sheridan are the fourth judicial district; (v) The counties of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie are the fifth judicial district; (vi) The counties of Campbell, Crook and Weston are the sixth judicial district; (vii) Natrona county is the seventh judicial district; (viii) The counties of Converse, Platte, Goshen and Niobrara are the eighth judicial district; (ix) The counties of Fremont, Teton and Sublette are the ninth judicial district. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be one (1) continuous term of court for the district courts of the state. The continuous term of court shall in no way affect the power of a court to take action in any cause or matter. |
District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 5-8-102 | Jurisdiction |
(a) The juvenile court has general jurisdiction in all matters and proceedings commenced therein or transferred to it by order of the district court concerning: (i) Any minor alleged to be delinquent as defined in W.S. 14 6 201; (ii) Any minor alleged to have committed a delinquent act before attaining the age of majority; (iii) Any minor alleged to be neglected as defined in W.S. 14-3-402; (iv) Any minor alleged to be in need of supervision as defined in W.S. 14 6 402; (v) The parents, guardian or custodian of any minor alleged to be delinquent, in need of supervision or neglected, and all persons living in the household with the minor; and (vi) Procedures governing abortions performed upon minors as provided under W.S. 35 6 118. For proceedings under this paragraph, "minor" shall mean as defined in W.S. 35 6 101(a)(x).
|
Juvenile Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7-13-1102 | Authority to establish programs; rulemaking authority |
(a) The department is authorized to adopt reasonable rules and regulations to establish an intensive supervision program for probationers and parolees. (b) An intensive supervision program established under this article may require: (i) Electronic monitoring, regimented daily schedules or itineraries, house arrest, telephone contact, drug testing, curfew checks or other supervision methods which facilitate contact with supervisory personnel; (ii) Community service work, family, educational or vocational counseling, treatment for substance abuse, mental health treatment and monitoring of restitution orders and fines previously imposed on the participant; and (iii) Imposition of supervision fees to be paid by participants.
|
Department of Corrections | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Wyoming | Wyo. Const. Art. V, § 3 | Supreme court generally; original jurisdiction |
The supreme court shall have original jurisdiction in quo warranto and mandamus as to all state officers, and in habeas corpus. The supreme court shall also have power to issue writs of mandamus, review, prohibition, habeas corpus, certiorari, and 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 a person held in actual custody, and may make such writs returnable before himself or before the supreme court, or before any district court of the state or any judge thereof.
|
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |