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Below are all of the laws that govern the structure of courts that match your search criteria.
80 Results
State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Court/legal body | Function | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.
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Juvenile Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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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.
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Parish District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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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.
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Ware Youth Center (juvenile court) | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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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 |
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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.
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Courts of Appeal (5) | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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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.
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Family Court for East Baton Rouge | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Const. art. IV, § 3 | Superior Court | The superior court shall be the trial court of general jurisdiction and shall consist of five judges. The number of judges may be changed by law. | Superior Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.15.070 | Extent of Jurisdiction | The civil jurisdiction and the criminal jurisdiction of the district court of the State of Alaska extend over the entire state. | District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Const. art. IV, § 2 | Supreme Court |
(a) The supreme court shall be the highest court of the State, with final appellate jurisdiction. It shall consist of three justices, one of whom is chief justice. The number of justices may be increased by law upon the request of the supreme court.
(b) The chief justice shall be selected from among the justices of the supreme court by a majority vote of the justices. His term of office as chief justice is three years. A justice may serve more than one term as chief justice but he may not serve consecutive terms in that office. |
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.07.020 | Jurisdiction |
(a) The court of appeals has appellate jurisdiction in actions and proceedings commenced in the superior court involving (1) criminal prosecution; (2) post-conviction relief; (3) matters under AS 47.12, including waiver of jurisdiction over a minor under AS 47.12.100; (4) extradition; (5) habeas corpus; (6) probation and parole; and (7) bail.
(b) Except as limited in AS 12.55.120, the court of appeals has jurisdiction to hear appeals of unsuspended sentences of imprisonment exceeding two years for a felony offense or 120 days for a misdemeanor offense imposed by the superior court on the grounds that the sentence is excessive, or a sentence of any length on the grounds that it is too lenient. The court of appeals, in the exercise of this jurisdiction, may modify the sentence as provided by law and the Constitution of the State of Alaska. (c) The court of appeals has jurisdiction to review (1) a final decision of the district court in an action or proceeding involving criminal prosecution, post-conviction relief, extradition, probation and parole, habeas corpus, or bail; and (2) the final decision of the district court on a sentence imposed by it if the sentence exceeds 120 days of unsuspended incarceration for a misdemeanor offense. In this subsection, “final decision” means a decision or order, other than dismissal by consent of all parties, that closes a matter in the district court. (d) An appeal to the court of appeals is a matter of right in all actions and proceedings within its jurisdiction except that (1) the right of appeal to the court of appeals is waived if an appellant chooses to appeal the final decision of the district court to the superior court; and (2) the state's right of appeal in criminal cases is limited by the prohibitions against double jeopardy contained in the United States Constitution and the Alaska Constitution. (e) The court of appeals may in its discretion (1) review a final decision of the superior court on an appeal from a district court in an action or proceeding involving criminal prosecution, post-conviction relief, extradition, probation and parole, habeas corpus or bail; (2) review the final decision of the superior court on appeal of a sentence imposed by the district court. In this subsection, “final decision” means a decision or order, other than a dismissal by consent of all parties, that closes a matter in the superior court. (f) The court of appeals may issue injunctions, writs, and all other process necessary for the complete exercise of its jurisdiction. (g) A final decision of the court of appeals is binding on the superior court and on the district court unless superseded by a decision of the supreme court. |
Court of Appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.05.015 | Transfer of Appellate Cases |
(a) The supreme court may transfer to the court of appeals for decision a case pending before the supreme court if the case is within the jurisdiction of the court of appeals.
(b) The supreme court may take jurisdiction of a case pending before the court of appeals if the court of appeals certifies to the supreme court that the case involves a significant question of law under the Constitution of the United States or under the constitution of the state or involves an issue of substantial public interest that should be determined by the supreme court. (c) A case filed in the supreme court or in the court of appeals may not be dismissed by one court on the ground that it is within the jurisdiction of the other court. The case shall be transferred to the proper court. |
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.05.010 | Jurisdiction |
(a) The supreme court has final appellate jurisdiction in all actions and proceedings. However, a party has only one appeal as a matter of right from an action or proceeding commenced in either the district court or the superior court.
(b) Appeal to the supreme court is a matter of right only in those actions and proceedings from which there is no right of appeal to the court of appeals under AS 22.07.020 or to the superior court under AS 22.10.020 or AS 22.15.240. (c) A decision of the superior court on an appeal from an administrative agency decision may be appealed to the supreme court as a matter of right. (d) The supreme court may in its discretion review a final decision of the court of appeals on application of a party under AS 22.07.030. The supreme court may in its discretion review a final decision of the superior court on an appeal of a civil case commenced in the district court. In this subsection, “final decision” means a decision or order, other than a dismissal by consent of all parties, that closes a matter in the court of appeals or the superior court, as applicable. (e) The supreme court may issue injunctions, writs, and all other process necessary to the complete exercise of its jurisdiction. (f) The supreme court may, in its discretion, review a final decision of the Military Appeals Commission under AS 26.05.645 for which a sentence of confinement is imposed, the right to appeal to the Military Appeals Commission under AS 26.05.615 or 26.05.640 has been exhausted, and a petition for review is filed under AS 26.05.645. |
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.10.020 | Jurisdiction of the Superior Court |
(a) The superior court is the trial court of general jurisdiction, with original jurisdiction in all civil and criminal matters, including probate and guardianship of minors and incompetents. Except for a petition for a protective order under AS 18.66.100-18.66.180, an action that falls within the concurrent jurisdiction of the superior court and the district court may not be filed in the superior court, except as provided by rules of the supreme court.
(b) The jurisdiction of the superior court extends over the whole of the state. (c) The superior court and its judges may issue injunctions, writs of review, mandamus, prohibition, habeas corpus, and all other writs necessary or proper to the complete exercise of its jurisdiction. A writ of habeas corpus may be made returnable before any judge of the superior court. (d) The superior court has jurisdiction in all matters appealed to it from a subordinate court, or administrative agency when appeal is provided by law, and has jurisdiction over petitions for relief in administrative matters under AS 44.62.305. The hearings on appeal from a final order or judgment of a subordinate court or administrative agency, except an appeal under AS 43.05.242, shall be on the record unless the superior court, in its discretion, grants a trial de novo, in whole or in part. The hearings on appeal from a final order or judgment under AS 43.05.242 shall be on the record. (e) An appeal to the superior court is a matter of right, but an appeal from a subordinate court may not be taken by the defendant in a criminal case after a plea of guilty, except on the ground that the sentence was excessive. The state's right of appeal in criminal cases is limited by the prohibitions against double jeopardy contained in the United States Constitution and the Alaska Constitution. (f) An appeal to the superior court may be taken on the ground that an unsuspended sentence of imprisonment exceeding 120 days was excessive and the superior court in the exercise of this jurisdiction has the power to reduce the sentence. The state may appeal a sentence on the ground that it is too lenient. When a sentence is appealed on the ground that it is too lenient, the court may not increase the sentence but may express its approval or disapproval of the sentence and its reasons in a written opinion. (g) In case of an actual controversy in the state, the superior court, upon the filing of an appropriate pleading, may declare the rights and legal relations of an interested party seeking the declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought. The declaration has the force and effect of a final judgment or decree and is reviewable as such. Further necessary or proper relief based on a declaratory judgment or decree may be granted, after reasonable notice and hearing, against an adverse party whose rights have been determined by the judgment. (h) Renumbered as § 22.10.025(a) by the revisor in 2004. (i) The superior court is the court of original jurisdiction over all causes of action arising under the provisions of AS 18.80. A person who is injured or aggrieved by an act, practice, or policy which is prohibited under AS 18.80 may apply to the superior court for relief. The person aggrieved or injured may maintain an action on behalf of that person or on behalf of a class consisting of all persons who are aggrieved or injured by the act, practice, or policy giving rise to the action. In an action brought under this subsection, the court may grant relief as to any act, practice, or policy of the defendant which is prohibited by AS 18.80, regardless of whether each act, practice, or policy, with respect to which relief is granted, directly affects the plaintiff, so long as a class or members of a class of which the plaintiff is a member are or may be aggrieved or injured by the act, practice, or policy. The court may enjoin any act, practice, or policy which is illegal under AS 18.80 and may order any other relief, including the payment of money, that is appropriate. |
Superior Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.15.040 | Small Claims |
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, when a claim for relief does not exceed $10,000, exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney fees, and request is so made, the district judge or magistrate shall hear the action as a small claim unless important or unusual points of law are involved or the state is a defendant. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development may bring an action as a small claim under this subsection for the payment of wages under AS 23.05.220 in an amount not to exceed $20,000, exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney fees. The supreme court shall prescribe the procedural rules and standard forms to assure simplicity and the expeditious handling of small claims.
(b) All potential small claim litigants shall be informed if mediation, conciliation, and arbitration services are available as an alternative to litigation. |
District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.15.030 | Civil Jurisdiction |
(a) The district court has jurisdiction of civil cases, including foreign judgments filed under AS 09.30.200 and arbitration proceedings under AS 09.43.170 or 09.43.530 to the extent permitted by AS 09.43.010 and 09.43.300, as follows:
(1) for the recovery of money or damages when the amount claimed exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney fees does not exceed $100,000 for each defendant; (2) for the recovery of specific personal property, when the value of the property claimed and the damages for the detention do not exceed $100,000; (3) for the recovery of a penalty or forfeiture, whether given by statute or arising out of contract, not exceeding $100,000; (4) to give judgment without action upon the confession of the defendant for any of the cases specified in this section, except for a penalty or forfeiture imposed by statute; (5) for establishing the fact of death or cause and manner of death of any person in the manner prescribed in AS 09.55.020--09.55.069; (6) for the recovery of the possession of premises in the manner provided under AS 09.45.070--09.45.160 when the value of the arrears and damage to the property does not exceed $100,000; (7) for the foreclosure of a lien when the amount in controversy does not exceed $100,000; (8) for the recovery of money or damages in motor vehicle tort cases when the amount claimed exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney fees does not exceed $100,000 for each defendant; (9) over civil actions for taking utility service and for damages to or interference with a utility line filed under AS 42.20.030; (10) over cases involving protective orders for domestic violence under AS 18.66.100--18.66.180. (11) over cases involving cruelty to or seizure, destruction, adoption, or cost of care of animals under AS 03.55.100--03.55.190. (b) Insofar as the civil jurisdiction of the district courts and the superior court is the same, the jurisdiction is concurrent. Except for a petition for a protective order under AS 18.66.100-18.66.180, an action that falls within the concurrent jurisdiction of the superior court and the district court may not be filed in the superior court, except as provided by rules of the supreme court. |
District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
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Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.15.050 | Actions Not Within Civil Jurisdiction |
The jurisdiction of the district courts does not extend to (1) an action in which the title to real property is in question; (2) an action of an equitable nature, except as otherwise provided by law.
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District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |