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
|
Alaska | Alaska Const. art. IV, § 1 | Judicial Power and Jurisdiction |
The judicial power of the State is vested in a supreme court, a superior court, and the courts established by the legislature. The jurisdiction of courts shall be prescribed by + See morelaw. The courts shall constitute a unified judicial system for operation and administration. Judicial districts shall be established by law.
|
All Courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.07.010 | Establishment | There is established the court of appeals, consisting of three judges. The court of appeals is a court of record. | Court of Appeals | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.10.010 | Establishment of Superior Court |
There shall be one superior court for the state. The court shall consist of four districts bounded as follows: First District: the area within election districts numbered one to six, + See moreboth inclusive, as those districts are described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959; Second District: the area within election districts numbered 21 to 23, both inclusive, and those areas of election districts 18 and 20 within the boundaries of the North Slope Borough, as those districts are described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959; Third District: the area within election districts numbered seven to 15, both inclusive, as those districts are described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959, and the portion of election district 19, as that district is described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959, that is in the Glennallen Venue District on March 1, 2002, described as follows: Beginning at a point on the divide between the watersheds of the Tanana River and the Copper River south of the headwaters of Totschunda Creek; thence southwesterly in a straight line first crossing the Nabesna River to Mt. Allen; thence meandering on the divide mountain peak to mountain peak to a point north of Regal Mountain on the divide separating the Nabesna Glacier from the Chisana Glacier; thence westerly and northwesterly along the divide between the watersheds of the Tanana River and Copper River as it meanders from mountain peak to mountain peak back to a point on the divide south of the headwaters of the Totschunda Creek, the place of the beginning; and Fourth District: the area within election districts numbered 16, 17, and 24, the areas of election districts numbered 18 and 20 not included in the second district, and the area of election district numbered 19 not included in the third district, as those districts are described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959.
|
Superior Court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Alaska | Alaska Stat. Ann. § 22.15.010 | Establishment of the District Court of the State of Alaska |
There is established a district court of the State of Alaska for each of the four judicial districts of the superior court of this state. |
District Court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Arizona | Ariz. Const. art. VI, § 1 | Judicial power; courts |
The judicial power shall be vested in an integrated judicial department consisting of a supreme court, such intermediate appellate courts as may be provided by law, a superior court, such + See morecourts inferior to the superior court as may be provided by law, and justice courts.
|
All Courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §12-120 | Creation of court of appeals; court of record; composition; sessions |
A. There is created a court of appeals which shall constitute a single court and such court shall be a court of record.B. The court of appeals shall be divided + See moreinto two divisions which shall be designated as division 1 and division 2. Division 1 shall have sixteen judges, consisting of the chief judge and five departments of three judges each, denominated, respectively, department A, department B, department C, department D and department E. Division 2 shall have six judges, consisting of two departments of three judges each, denominated, respectively, department A and department B.
C. Division 1 shall consist of the counties of Maricopa, Yuma, La Paz, Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo and Apache.
D. Division 2 shall consist of the counties of Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Greenlee, Graham and Gila.
E. The sessions of divisions 1 and 2 shall be held in Phoenix and Tucson, respectively. Sessions may be held at places other than Phoenix or Tucson when in the opinion of a majority of the judges of a division or department the public interest so requires. The judges of the respective divisions and departments may hold sessions in either division and shall do so when directed by the chief justice of the supreme court. Each judge of the court of appeals may participate in matters pending before a different division or department.
F. No more than three judges of the court of appeals, including superior court judges and retired judges sitting with the court, shall hear and determine a matter and render a decision, and a majority of two of the three judges shall be sufficient to render a decision.
|
Court of Appeals | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 22-402 | Establishment and jurisdiction |
A. In each city or town incorporated under the general laws of this state, there shall be a municipal court. |
Municipal Courts | 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
|
Delaware | Del. Const. Art. IV, § 1 | Creation of Courts |
The judicial power of this State shall be vested in a Supreme Court, a Superior Court, a Court of Chancery, a Family Court, a Court of Common Pleas, a Register's Court, Justices of the Peace, and such other courts as the General Assembly, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members elected to each House, shall have by law established prior to the time this amended Article IV of this Constitution becomes effective or shall from time to time by law establish after such time.
|
All courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 421 | Establishment |
The Judicial Department may establish alcohol and drug treatment programs in the Superior Courts and District Courts and may adopt administrative orders and court rules to govern the practice, procedure and administration of these programs. Alcohol and drug treatment programs must include local judges and must be community based and operated separately from juvenile drug courts.
|
Alcohol and drug treatment court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 431 | Mental health treatment courts |
The Judicial Department may seek and receive grants to establish mental health treatment courts. |
Mental health treatment courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. tit 4 § 433(2) | Veterans treatment courts |
Chief Justice may establish. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may establish veterans treatment courts for veterans and members of the United States Armed Forces. The Supreme Judicial Court may adopt administrative orders and court rules of practice and procedure as necessary.
|
Veterans treatment courts | 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
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-23-3(1) | Purpose of the drug courts |
The Legislature of Mississippi recognizes the critical need for judicial intervention to reduce the incidence of alcohol and drug use, alcohol and drug addiction, and crimes committed as a result + See moreof alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug addiction. It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate local drug court alternative orders adaptable to chancery, circuit, county, youth, municipal and justice courts.
|
Drug courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-25-1(2) | Veterans treatment court program |
A circuit court judge may establish a Veterans Treatment Court program. The Veterans Treatment Court may, at the discretion of the circuit court judge, be a separate court program or + See moreas a component of an existing drug court program. At the discretion of the circuit court judge, the Veterans Treatment Court may be operated in one (1) county within the circuit court district, and allow veteran participants from all counties within the circuit court district to participate.
|
Veteran treatment court | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | NV Const. Article 6, Sec. 1 | Judicial power vested in court system |
Judicial power vested in court system. The judicial power of this State is vested in a court system, comprising a Supreme Court, a court of appeals, district courts and justices of + See morethe peace. The Legislature may also establish, as part of the system, courts for municipal purposes only in incorporated cities and towns.
|
All courts | Creation of the courts |
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | NV Const. Article 6, Sec. 6 | District Courts: Jurisdiction; referees; family court |
2. The legislature may provide by law for: . . . .
(b) The establishment of a family court as a division of any district + See morecourt and may prescribe its jurisdiction.
|
Family Court | Creation of the courts |