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Structure of Courts

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Below are all of the laws that govern the structure of courts that match your search criteria.

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	State	Statute	Description/Statute Name	Statutory language	Court/legal body	Function
Add to Dashboard + Create New	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 + See more Court may adopt administrative orders and court rules of practice and procedure as necessary.	Veterans treatment courts	Creation of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maine	M.R.S.A. Const. Art. 6, § 1	Courts	The judicial power of this State shall be vested in a Supreme Judicial Court, and such other courts as the Legislature shall from time to time establish.	Courts generally	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 1-301; Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 12-307	Court of Appeals - jurisdiction	The Court of Appeals has: (1) Jurisdiction to review a case or proceeding pending in or decided by the Court of Special Appeals in accordance with Subtitle 2 of this + See more title; (2) Jurisdiction to review a case or proceeding decided by a circuit court, in accordance with § 12-305 of this subtitle; and (3) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction with respect to a question of law certified to it under the Uniform Certification of Questions of Law Act.	Maryland Court of Appeals	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 1-401; Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 12-307	Court of Special Appeals - jurisdiction	Except as provided in § 12-307 of this subtitle, the Court of Special Appeals has exclusive initial appellate jurisdiction over any reviewable judgment, decree, order or other action of a + See more circuit court, and an orphans' court.	Maryland Court of Special Appeals	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 1-501	Circuit Courts - jurisdiction	The circuit courts are the highest common-law and equity courts of record exercising original jurisdiction within the State. Each has full common-law and equity powers and jurisdiction in all civil + See more and criminal cases within its county, and all the additional powers and jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution and by law, except where by law jurisdiction has been limited or conferred exclusively upon another tribunal.	Maryland Circuit Courts	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-201	District Courts - jurisdiction	The jurisdiction of the District Court extends to every case which arises within the State or is subject to the State's judicial power, and which is within the limitations imposed + See more by this title or elsewhere by law. Exercise of this jurisdiction is subject to the restrictions of venue established by law.	District Courts	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Maryland	Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts § 2-102 (West)	Orphans' Court - jurisdiction	The court may conduct judicial probate, direct the conduct of a personal representative, and pass orders which may be required in the course of the administration of an estate of + See more a decedent. It may summon witnesses. The court may not, under pretext of incidental power or constructive authority, exercise any jurisdiction not expressly conferred. The court may conduct judicial probate, direct the conduct of a personal representative, and pass orders which may be required in the course of the administration of an estate of a decedent. It may summon witnesses. The court may not, under pretext of incidental power or constructive authority, exercise any jurisdiction not expressly conferred.	Orphans' Court	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	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 more and 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 + Create New	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 more and 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 + Create New	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 more and 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 + Create New	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 more and 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 + Create New	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 more and 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 + Create New	Texas	Tex. Const. Art. 5 Sec. 1	Judicial power; courts in which vested	The judicial power of this State shall be vested in one Supreme Court, in one Court of Criminal Appeals, in Courts of Appeals, in District Courts, in County Courts, in + See more Commissioners Courts, in Courts of Justices of the Peace, and in such other courts as may be provided by law. The Legislature may establish such other courts as it may deem necessary and prescribe the jurisdiction and organization thereof, and may conform the jurisdiction of the district and other inferior courts thereto.	State courts	Creation of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Texas	Tex. Con. Art. 5 Sec. 19	Justices of the peace; jurisdiction; appeals; ex officio notaries public; times and places of holding court	Justice of the peace courts shall have original jurisdiction in criminal matters of misdemeanor cases punishable by fine only, exclusive jurisdiction in civil matters where the amount in controversy is + See more two hundred dollars or less, and such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law. Justices of the peace shall be ex officio notaries public.	Justice of the Peace Courts	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Texas	Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §26.045	Original Criminal Jurisdiction	(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a county court has exclusive original jurisdiction of misdemeanors other than misdemeanors involving official misconduct and cases in which the highest fine that + See more may be imposed is $500 or less. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a county court has jurisdiction in the forfeiture and final judgment of bonds and recognizances taken in criminal cases within the court's jurisdiction. (c) Except as provided by Subsections (d) and (f), a county court that is in a county with a criminal district court does not have any criminal jurisdiction. (d) A county court in a county with a population of 1.75 million or more has original jurisdiction over cases alleging a violation of Section 25.093, Education Code, or alleging truant conduct under Section 65.003(a), Family Code. (e) Subsections (c) and (d) do not affect the jurisdiction of a statutory county court. (f) A county court has concurrent jurisdiction with a municipal court in cases that arise in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction and that arise under an ordinance of the municipality applicable to the extraterritorial jurisdiction under Section 216.902, Local Government Code.	Constitutional county courts	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Texas	Tex. Gov't. Code § 22.001.	Jurisdiction	(a) The supreme court has appellate jurisdiction, except in criminal law matters, of an appealable order or judgment of the trial courts if the court determines that the appeal presents + See more a question of law that is important to the jurisprudence of the state. The supreme court's jurisdiction does not include cases in which the jurisdiction of the court of appeals is made final by statute. (b) A case over which the court has jurisdiction under Subsection (a) may be carried to the supreme court by petition for review.	Supreme Court	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Texas	Jurisdiction of District Court	Tex. Const. Art. 5 Sec. 8	District Court jurisdiction consists of exclusive, appellate, and original jurisdiction of all actions, proceedings, and remedies, except in cases where exclusive, appellate, or original jurisdiction may be conferred by this + See more Constitution or other law on some other court, tribunal, or administrative body. District Court judges shall have the power to issue writs necessary to enforce their jurisdiction. The District Court shall have appellate jurisdiction and general supervisory control over the County Commissioners Court, with such exceptions and under such regulations as may be prescribed by law.	Distict Court	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Texas	Tex. Gov't. Code § 29.003	Jurisdiction	(a) A municipal court, including a municipal court of record, shall have exclusive original jurisdiction within the municipality's territorial limits and property owned by the municipality located in the municipality's + See more extraterritorial jurisdiction in all criminal cases that: (1) arise under: (A) the ordinances of the municipality; or (B) a resolution, rule, or order of a joint board operating an airport under Section 22.074, Transportation Code; and (2) are punishable by a fine not to exceed: (A) $2,000 in all cases arising under municipal ordinances or resolutions, rules, or orders of a joint board that govern fire safety, zoning, or public health and sanitation, other than the dumping of refuse; (B) $4,000 in cases arising under municipal ordinances that govern the dumping of refuse; or (C) $500 in all other cases arising under a municipal ordinance or a resolution, rule, or order of a joint board. (b) The municipal court has concurrent jurisdiction with the justice court of a precinct in which the municipality is located in all criminal cases arising under state law that arise within the municipality's territorial limits or property owned by the municipality located in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction and that: (1) are punishable only by a fine, as defined in Subsection (c); or (2) arise under Chapter 106, Alcoholic Beverage Code, and do not include confinement as an authorized sanction.	Municipal Court	Jurisdiction of the courts
Add to Dashboard + Create New	Texas	Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 4.01	What Courts Have Criminal Jurisdiction	The following courts have jurisdiction in criminal actions: 1. The Court of Criminal Appeals; 2. Courts of appeals; 3. The district courts; 4. The criminal district courts; 5. The magistrates + See more appointed by the judges of the district courts of Bexar County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, or Travis County that give preference to criminal cases and the magistrates appointed by the judges of the criminal district courts of Dallas County or Tarrant County; 6. The county courts; 7. All county courts at law with criminal jurisdiction; 8. County criminal courts; 9. Justice courts; 10. Municipal courts; 11. The magistrates appointed by the judges of the district courts of Lubbock County; and 12. The magistrates appointed by the El Paso Council of Judges.	Courts generally	Jurisdiction of the courts

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