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.
29 Results
State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Court/legal body | Function | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | La. Const. Art. 3 Sec. 9 | District courts - elected judges |
Section 9. Each circuit shall be divided into at least three districts, and at least one judge shall be elected from each. The circuits and districts and the number of + See morejudges as elected in each circuit on the effective date of this constitution are retained, subject to change by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature.
|
District Courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Louisiana | La. Const. Ann. art. V, § 20 | Justice of the Peace/Mayor's Court - subject to change by law | Mayors' courts and justice of the peace courts existing on the effective date of this constitution are continued, subject to change by law. | Justice of the Peace Courts/Mayor's Courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
New York | Const. Art. 6, § 30 | Legislative power over jurisdiction and proceedings; delegation of power to regulate practice and procedure. |
The legislature shall have the same power to alter and regulate the jurisdiction and proceedings in law and in equity that it has heretofore exercised. The legislature may, on such + See moreterms as it shall provide and subject to subsequent modification, delegate, in whole or in part, to a court, including the appellate division of the supreme court, or to the chief administrator of the courts, any power possessed by the legislature to regulate practice and procedure in the courts. The chief administrator of the courts shall exercise any such power delegated to him or her with the advice and consent of the administrative board of the courts. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the adoption of regulations by individual courts consistent with the general practice and procedure as provided by statute or general rules.
|
Legislature | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
New York | Const. Art. 6, § 33 | Custodians of children to be of same religious persuasion |
Existing provisions of law not inconsistent with this article shall continue in force until repealed, amended, modified or superseded in accordance with the provisions of this article. The legislature shall + See moreenact appropriate laws to carry into effect the purposes and provisions of this article, and may, for the purpose of implementing, supplementing or clarifying any of its provisions, enact any laws, not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, necessary or desirable in promoting the objectives of this article.
|
Legislature | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Connecticut | Conn. Const., art. V, § 1 | Creation of lower courts |
The judicial power of the state shall be vested in a supreme court, a superior court, and such lower courts as the general assembly shall, from time to time, ordain + See moreand establish. The powers and jurisdiction of these courts shall be defined by law.
|
Lower courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Iowa | Iowa Const. Art. 5 § 10 | General assembly |
[* * *]* The general assembly may reorganize the judicial districts and increase or diminish the number of districts, or the number of judges of the said court, and may increase the number of judges of the supreme court; but such increase or diminution shall not be more than one district, or one judge of either court, at any one session; and no reorganization of the districts, or diminution of the number of judges, shall have the effect of removing a judge from office. Such reorganization of the districts, or any change in the boundaries thereof, or increase or diminution of the number of judges, shall take place every four years thereafter, if necessary, and at no other time.
At any regular session of the general assembly the state may be divided into the necessary judicial districts for district court purposes, or the said districts may be reorganized and the number of the districts and the judges of said courts increased or diminished; but no reorganization of the districts or diminution of the judges shall have the effect of removing a judge from office. |
Judicial districts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Iowa | Iowa Const. Art. 5 § 1 | Judicial Power |
The judicial power shall be vested in a supreme court, district courts, and such other courts, inferior to the supreme court, as the general assembly may, from time to time, establish.
|
Courts generally | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Maryland | Md. Const. art. IV, §§ 1, 14 | Court of Appeals - creation of courts |
The Judicial power of this State is vested in a Court of Appeals, such intermediate courts of appeal as the General Assembly may create by law, Circuit Courts, Orphans' Courts, + See moreand a District Court. These Courts shall be Courts of Record, and each shall have a seal to be used in the authentication of all process issuing from it..
|
Maryland Court of Appeals | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Maryland | Md. Const. art. IV, §§ 1, 15 | Special Appeals - creation of courts |
The Judicial power of this State is vested in a Court of Appeals, such intermediate courts of appeal as the General Assembly may create by law, Circuit Courts, Orphans' Courts, + See moreand a District Court. These Courts shall be Courts of Record, and each shall have a seal to be used in the authentication of all process issuing from it..
|
Maryland Court of Special Appeals | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Maryland | Md. Const. art. IV, §§ 1, 16 | Circuit Courts - creation of courts |
The Judicial power of this State is vested in a Court of Appeals, such intermediate courts of appeal as the General Assembly may create by law, Circuit Courts, Orphans' Courts, + See moreand a District Court. These Courts shall be Courts of Record, and each shall have a seal to be used in the authentication of all process issuing from it..
|
Maryland Circuit Courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Maryland | Md. Const. art. IV, §§ 1, 17 | District Courts - creation of courts |
The Judicial power of this State is vested in a Court of Appeals, such intermediate courts of appeal as the General Assembly may create by law, Circuit Courts, Orphans' Courts, + See moreand a District Court. These Courts shall be Courts of Record, and each shall have a seal to be used in the authentication of all process issuing from it..
|
District Courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Maryland | Md. Const. art. IV, §§ 1, 18 | Orphans' Court - creation of courts |
The Judicial power of this State is vested in a Court of Appeals, such intermediate courts of appeal as the General Assembly may create by law, Circuit Courts, Orphans' Courts, + See moreand a District Court. These Courts shall be Courts of Record, and each shall have a seal to be used in the authentication of all process issuing from it..
|
Orphans' Court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 211A, § 1 | Court Established; Justices. |
There shall be an intermediate appellate court to be known as the appeals court. The appeals court shall consist of a chief justice and twenty-four associate justices. |
Massachusetts Appeals Court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Massachusetts | Mass. Const. Pt. 2, C. 3, art. IV | Provisions for Holding Probate Courts. |
The judges of probate of wills, and for granting letters of administration, shall hold their courts at such place or places, on fixed days, as the convenience of the people shall require; and the legislature shall, from time to time, hereafter appoint such times and places; until which appointments, the said courts shall be holden at the times and places which the respective judges shall direct.
|
Probate Court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 490-G:2 | Implementation of Drug Courts |
I. (a) Each superior or circuit court may establish one or more drug courts under which drug offenders may be processed to address appropriately an identified substance abuse problem. “Drug court” means a judicial intervention process that incorporates and substantially complies with the Ten Key Components listed in subparagraph (b) and may include:(1) “Pre-adjudication” where a drug offender is ordered to participate in drug court before charges are filed or before conviction;(2) “Post-adjudication” where a drug offender is ordered to participate in drug court after entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendre or having been found guilty;(3) “Reentry” where a drug offender is ordered to participate in drug court upon release from a sentence of incarceration; or(4) “Combination program” which may include pre-adjudication, post-adjudication, and/or reentry.
|
Drug court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 490-H:2 | Implementation of Mental Health Courts |
Any superior or circuit court may establish one or more mental health courts under which the courts monitor offenders with mental illnesses for compliance with individual services to change behavior which would otherwise result in criminal conduct.
|
Mental health court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 592-B:9 | Drug Courts or Alternative Drug Offender Programs |
I. (a) In any county that has implemented or which will implement the felonies first project established in this chapter within one year of commencing operation of a drug court or alternative drug offender program, the judicial branch shall fund and operate an approved drug court or alternative drug offender program separate from the statewide drug offender grant program established in RSA 490-G, and at no cost to the county.
|
Drug Court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
New Hampshire | N.H. Const. Pt. 2, art. 72a | Supreme and Superior Courts |
The judicial power of the state shall be vested in the supreme court, a trial court of general jurisdiction known as the superior court, and such lower courts as the legislature may establish under Article 4th of Part 2.
|
Supreme Court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Ohio | Ohio Const. Art. IV § 1 | In whom judicial power vested |
The judicial power of the state is vested in a supreme court, courts of appeals, courts of common pleas and divisions thereof, and such other courts inferior to the supreme court as may from time to time be established by law.
|
Judiciary | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Ohio | Ohio Const. Art. IV, § 4 | Common pleas court |
(A) There shall be a court of common pleas and such divisions thereof as may be established by law serving each county of the state. Any judge of a court of common pleas or a division thereof may temporarily hold court in any county. In the interests of the fair, impartial, speedy, and sure administration of justice, each county shall have one or more resident judges, or two or more counties may be combined into districts having one or more judges resident in the district and serving the common pleas courts of all counties in the district, as may be provided by law. Judges serving a district shall sit in each county in the district as the business of the court requires. In counties or districts having more than one judge of the court of common pleas, the judges shall select one of their number to act as presiding judge, to serve at their pleasure. If the judges are unable because of equal division of the vote to make such selection, the judge having the longest total service on the court of common pleas shall serve as presiding judge until selection is made by vote. The presiding judge shall have such duties and exercise such powers as are prescribed by rule of the supreme court.
(B) The courts of common pleas and divisions thereof shall have such original jurisdiction over all justiciable matters and such powers of review of proceedings of administrative officers and agencies as may be provided by law. (C) Unless otherwise provided by law, there shall be a probate division and such other divisions of the courts of common pleas as may be provided by law. Judges shall be elected specifically to such probate division and to such other divisions. The judges of the probate division shall be empowered to employ and control the clerks, employees, deputies, and referees of such probate division of the common pleas courts. |
Court of Common Pleas | Creation of the courts |