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.
21 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Court/legal body | Function | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-3-9 | Supreme court jurisdiction |
The Supreme Court shall have such jurisdiction as properly belongs to a court of appeals, and shall hear and determine all manner of pleas, complaints, motions, causes, and controversies, civil + See moreand criminal, which are now pending therein, or which may be brought before it, and which shall be cognizable in said court; but a cause shall not be removed into said court until after final judgment in the court below, except as provided by Section 9-4-3, or in cases particularly provided for by law; and the Supreme Court may grant new trials and correct errors of the circuit court in granting or refusing the same.Provided, however, the Supreme Court shall have such original and appellate jurisdiction as may be otherwise provided by law in cases and proceedings for modification of any rates charged or sought to be charged to the public by any public utility.
|
Supreme court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-4-3(1) | Court of appeals jurisdiction |
The Court of Appeals shall have the power to determine or otherwise dispose of any appeal or other proceeding assigned to it by the Supreme Court.
The jurisdiction of the Court + See moreof Appeals is limited to those matters which have been assigned to it by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court shall prescribe rules for the assignment of matters to the Court of Appeals. These rules may provide for the selective assignment of individual cases and may provide for the assignment of cases according to subject matter or other general criteria. However, the Supreme Court shall retain appeals in cases imposing the death penalty, or cases involving utility rates, annexations, bond issues, election contests, or a statute held unconstitutional by the lower court.
|
Court of appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-81 | Chancery court jurisdiction |
The chancery court in addition to the full jurisdiction in all the matters and cases expressly conferred upon it by the constitution shall have jurisdiction of all cases transferred to + See moreit by the circuit court or remanded to it by the supreme court; and such further jurisdiction, as is, in this chapter or elsewhere, provided by law.
|
Chancery court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-7-81 | Circuit courts jurisdiction |
The circuit court shall have original jurisdiction in all actions when the principal of the amount in controversy exceeds two hundred dollars, and of all other actions and causes, matters + See moreand things arising under the constitution and laws of this state which are not exclusively cognizable in some other court, and such appellate jurisdiction as prescribed by law. Such court shall have power to hear and determine all prosecutions in the name of the state for treason, felonies, crimes, and misdemeanors, except such as may be exclusively cognizable before some other court; and said court shall have all the powers belonging to a court of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery, and may do and perform all other acts properly pertaining to a circuit court of law.
|
Circuit courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-9-21(1) | Jurisdiction of county court |
The jurisdiction of the county court shall be as follows: It shall have jurisdiction concurrent with the justice court in all matters, civil and criminal of which the justice court + See morehas jurisdiction; and it shall have jurisdiction concurrent with the circuit and chancery courts in all matters of law and equity wherein the amount of value of the thing in controversy shall not exceed, exclusive of costs and interest, the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00), and the jurisdiction of the county court shall not be affected by any setoff, counterclaim or cross-bill in such actions where the amount sought to be recovered in such setoff, counterclaim or cross-bill exceeds Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00). Provided, however, the party filing such setoff, counterclaim or cross-bill which exceeds Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) shall give notice to the opposite party or parties as provided in Section 13-3-83, and on motion of all parties filed within twenty (20) days after the filing of such setoff, counterclaim or cross-bill, the county court shall transfer the case to the circuit or chancery court wherein the county court is situated and which would otherwise have jurisdiction. It shall have exclusively the jurisdiction heretofore exercised by the justice court in the following matters and causes: namely, eminent domain, the partition of personal property, and actions of unlawful entry and detainer, provided that the actions of eminent domain and unlawful entry and detainer may be returnable and triable before the judge of said court in vacation. The county court shall have jurisdiction over criminal matters in the county assigned by a judge of the circuit court district in which the county is included.
|
County court | Jurisdiction 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
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-9 | Justice courts -- civil jurisdiction |
Justice court judges shall have jurisdiction of all actions for the recovery of debts or damages or personal property, where the principal of the debt, the amount of the demand, + See moreor the value of the property sought to be recovered shall not exceed Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00).
|
Justice courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. § 9-11-10 | Justice courts -- civil jurisdiction prerequisites |
No justice of the peace court shall have jurisdiction over any civil suit attempted to be filed therein unless and until all legally required court costs, as set out, but + See morenot restricted to, Sections 25-7-25 and 25-7-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, are deposited with the court. The justice of the peace shall not file, docket, issue process, or otherwise assume jurisdiction until such costs shall have been paid.
|
Justice courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Vermont | Vt. Const. ch. 2 § 4 | Judiciary powers |
The judicial power of the State shall be vested in a unified judicial system which shall be composed of a Supreme Court, a Superior Court, and such other subordinate courts as the General Assembly may from time to time ordain and establish.
|
State courts | Creation of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Vermont | Vt. Const. ch. 2 § 30 | Supreme court jurisdiction |
The Supreme Court shall exercise appellate jurisdiction in all cases, criminal and civil, under such terms and conditions as it shall specify in rules not inconsistent with law. The Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction only as provided by law, but it shall have the power to issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of its appellate jurisdiction. The Supreme Court shall have administrative control of all the courts of the state, and disciplinary authority concerning all judicial officers and attorneys at law in the State.
|
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Vermont | Vt. Const. ch. 2 § 31 | Lower courts jurisdiction |
All other courts of this State shall have original and appellate jurisdiction as provided by law. All courts except the Supreme Court may be divided into geographical and functional divisions as provided by law or by judicial rules adopted by the Supreme Court not inconsistent with law. The jurisdiction of geographical and functional divisions shall be as provided by law or by judicial rules not inconsistent with law. The courts of this state may exercise equity jurisdiction as well as law jurisdiction in civil proceedings as may be provided by law or by judicial rules not inconsistent with law.
|
Lower courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 4 § 1 | Unified court system established |
The Judiciary shall be a unified court system under the administrative control of the Supreme Court. It shall consist of an appellate division, which shall be the Supreme Court, and a trial division, which shall consist of a trial court of general jurisdiction to be known as the Superior Court, and a Judicial Bureau.
|
State courts | Creation of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 4 § 30 | Superior Court |
(a)(1) A Superior Court having statewide jurisdiction is created. The Superior Court shall have the following divisions: jurisdiction over the matters described in section 32 of this title. The Vermont Rules of Criminal Procedure shall apply to criminal matters in the Criminal Division, and the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure shall apply to civil matters in the Criminal Division.
|
Superior Court | Creation of the courts, Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 4 § 2 | Supreme Court established; jurisdiction |
(a) The Supreme Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of appeals from judgments, rulings, and orders of the Superior Court, administrative agencies, boards, commissions, and officers unless otherwise provided by law. |
Supreme Court | Creation of the courts, Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 4 § 32 | Jurisdiction; Criminal Division |
(a) The Criminal Division shall have jurisdiction to try, render judgment, and pass sentence in prosecutions for felonies and misdemeanors. finally determine prosecutions for violations of bylaws or ordinances of a village, town, or city, except as otherwise provided.
|
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Minnesota | Minn. Const. Art. 6, § 2 | Judiciary; Supreme Court |
The supreme court consists of one chief judge and not less than six nor more than eight associate judges as the legislature may establish. It shall have original jurisdiction in such remedial cases as are prescribed by law, and appellate jurisdiction in all cases, but there shall be no trial by jury in the supreme court. The legislature may establish a court of appeals and provide by law for the number of its judges, who shall not be judges of any other court, and its organization and for the review of its decisions by the supreme court. The court of appeals shall have appellate jurisdiction over all courts, except the supreme court, and other appellate jurisdiction as prescribed by law. As provided by law judges of the court of appeals or of the district court may be assigned temporarily to act as judges of the supreme court upon its request and judges of the district court may be assigned temporarily by the supreme court to act as judges of the court of appeals. The supreme court shall appoint to serve at its pleasure a clerk, a reporter, a state law librarian and other necessary employees.
|
Supreme Court | Creation of the courts, Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Minnesota | Minn. Const. Art. 6, § 3 | Judiciary; Jursidiction of district court |
The district court has original jurisdiction in all civil and criminal cases and shall have appellate jurisdiction as prescribed by law. |
District Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Minnesota | Minn. Const. Art. 6, § 1 | Judiciary; Judicial power |
The judicial power of the state is vested in a supreme court, a court of appeals, if established by the legislature, a district court and such other courts, judicial officers and commissioners with jurisdiction inferior to the district court as the legislature may establish.
|
Judiciary | Creation of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Minnesota | M.S.A. Const. Art. 6, § 2 | Judiciary; Supreme Court |
The supreme court consists of one chief judge and not less than six nor more than eight associate judges as the legislature may establish. It shall have original jurisdiction in such remedial cases as are prescribed by law, and appellate jurisdiction in all cases, but there shall be no trial by jury in the supreme court. The legislature may establish a court of appeals and provide by law for the number of its judges, who shall not be judges of any other court, and its organization and for the review of its decisions by the supreme court. The court of appeals shall have appellate jurisdiction over all courts, except the supreme court, and other appellate jurisdiction as prescribed by law.As provided by law judges of the court of appeals or of the district court may be assigned temporarily to act as judges of the supreme court upon its request and judges of the district court may be assigned temporarily by the supreme court to act as judges of the court of appeals. The supreme court shall appoint to serve at its pleasure a clerk, a reporter, a state law librarian and other necessary employees.
|
Courts of Appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |