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.
41 Results
| State | Statute | Description/Statute Name | Statutory language | Court/legal body | Function | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 2A.160 | Jurisdiction; review by Supreme Court | The Supreme Court shall fix by rule the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals and shall provide for the review, where appropriate, of appeals decided by the Court of Appeals. | Court of appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 3.0199 | Jurisdiction over matters arising from or relating to administration of Humboldt River Decree |
The Sixth and Eleventh Judicial District Courts have concurrent jurisdiction over all matters arising from or relating to the administration of the Humboldt River Decree. The venue for any case + See moreor proceeding arising from or relating to the Humboldt River Decree must be determined on an alternating basis between the Sixth and Eleventh Judicial District Courts.
|
District court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 3.221 | Transfer of original jurisdiction to justice court |
If an action is filed in the district court and a district judge determines that the action is properly within the jurisdiction of the justice court pursuant to NRS 4.370, + See morethe district judge may transfer original jurisdiction of the action to the justice court.
|
Justice court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 3.223 (West) | Jurisdiction of family courts |
1. Except if the child involved is subject to the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe pursuant to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901 et seq., + See morein each judicial district in which it is established, the family court has original, exclusive jurisdiction in any proceeding:(a) Brought pursuant to title 5 of NRS or chapter 31A, 123, 125, 125A, 125B, 125C, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 159, 425 or 432B of NRS, except to the extent that a specific statute authorizes the use of any other judicial or administrative procedure to facilitate the collection of an obligation for support.(b) Brought pursuant to NRS 442.255 and 442.2555 to request the court to issue an order authorizing an abortion.(c) For judicial approval of the marriage of a minor.(d) Otherwise within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.(e) To establish the date of birth, place of birth or parentage of a minor.(f) To change the name of a minor.(g) For a judicial declaration of the sanity of a minor.(h) To approve the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures from a person as authorized by law.(i) Brought pursuant to NRS 433A.200 to 433A.330, inclusive, for an involuntary court-ordered admission to a mental health facility.(j) Brought pursuant to NRS 441A.510 to 441A.720, inclusive, for an involuntary court-ordered isolation or quarantine.2. The family court, where established and, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (m) of subsection 1 of NRS 4.370, the justice court have concurrent jurisdiction over actions for the issuance of a temporary or extended order for protection against domestic violence.3. The family court, where established, and the district court have concurrent jurisdiction over any action for damages brought pursuant to NRS 41.134 by a person who suffered injury as the proximate result of an act that constitutes domestic violence.
|
Family Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 4.280 | Jurisdiction of justice of the peace with whom docket is deposited |
Any justice with whom the docket of his or her predecessor, or of any other justice, is deposited, has and may exercise over all actions and proceedings entered in such + See moredocket the same jurisdiction as if originally commenced before him or her. In case of the creation of a new county, or the change of the boundary between two counties, any justice into whose hands the docket of a justice formerly acting as such within the same territory may come, is, for the purposes of this section, considered the successor of such former justice.
|
Justice of the peace | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 5.050 | Jurisdiction |
Municipal courts have jurisdiction of civil actions or proceedings:(a) For the violation of any ordinance of their respective cities.(b) To prevent or abate a nuisance within the limits of their + See morerespective cities.2. The municipal courts have jurisdiction of all misdemeanors committed in violation of the ordinances of their respective cities. Upon approval of the district court, a municipal court may transfer original jurisdiction of a misdemeanor to the district court for the purpose of assigning an offender to a program established pursuant to NRS 176A.250 or 176A.280.3. The municipal courts have jurisdiction of:(a) Any action for the collection of taxes or assessments levied for city purposes, when the principal sum thereof does not exceed $2,500.(b) Actions to foreclose liens in the name of the city for the nonpayment of those taxes or assessments when the principal sum claimed does not exceed $2,500.(c) Actions for the breach of any bond given by any officer or person to or for the use or benefit of the city, and of any action for damages to which the city is a party, and upon all forfeited recognizances given to or for the use or benefit of the city, and upon all bonds given on appeals from the municipal court in any of the cases named in this section, when the principal sum claimed does not exceed $2,500.(d) Actions for the recovery of personal property belonging to the city, when the value thereof does not exceed $2,500.(e) Actions by the city for the collection of any damages, debts or other obligations when the amount claimed, exclusive of costs or attorney's fees, or both if allowed, does not exceed $2,500.(f) Actions seeking an order pursuant to NRS 441A.195.
|
Municipal court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62B.300 | Exercise of jurisdiction by district courts; district courts termed juvenile courts for that purpose |
The district courts:1. To the extent specified in this title, shall have and exercise jurisdiction in all proceedings conducted pursuant to this title; and2. When exercising jurisdiction pursuant to the + See moreprovisions of this title, shall be termed juvenile courts.
|
District court acting as juvenile court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.04.010 | Jurisdiction |
The supreme court shall have original jurisdiction in habeas corpus and quo warrantor and mandamus as to all state officers, and appellate jurisdiction in all actions and proceedings excepting that its appellate jurisdiction shall not extend to civil actions at law for the recovery of money or personal property when the original amount in controversy or the value of the property does not exceed the sum of two hundred dollars, unless the action involves the legality of a tax, impost, assessment, toll, municipal fine, or the validity of a statute. The supreme court shall also have power to issue writs of mandamus, review, prohibition, habeas corpus, certiorari, and all other writs necessary and proper to the complete exercise of its appellate and revisory jurisdiction. Each of the judges shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus to any part of the state, upon petition by or on behalf of any person held in actual custody, and may make such writs returnable before himself or herself, or before the supreme court, or before any superior court of the state, or any judge thereof.
|
Supreme Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.06.030 | General powers and authority--Transfers of cases--Appellate jurisdiction, exceptions--Appeals |
Subject to the provisions of this section, the court shall have exclusive appellate jurisdiction in all cases except:(a) cases of quo warrantor, prohibition, injunction or mandamus directed to state officials; (b) criminal cases where the death penalty has been decreed; (c) cases where the validity of all or any portion of a statute, ordinance, tax, impost, assessment or toll is drawn into question on the grounds of repugnancy to the Constitution of the United States or of the state of Washington, or to a statute or treaty of the United States, and the superior court has held against its validity; (d) cases involving fundamental and urgent issues of broad public import requiring prompt and ultimate determination; and (e) cases involving substantive issues on which there is a direct conflict among prevailing decisions of panels of the court or between decisions of the supreme court;
|
Court of Appeals | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.08.010 | Original jurisdiction |
The superior court shall have original jurisdiction in all cases in equity, and in all cases at law which involve the title or possession of real property, or the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, toll or municipal fine, and in all other cases in which the demand or the value of the property in controversy amounts to three hundred dollars, and in all criminal cases amounting to felony, and in all cases of misdemeanor not otherwise provided for by law; of actions of forcible entry and detainer; of proceedings in insolvency; of actions to prevent or abate a nuisance; of all matters of probate, of divorce and for annulment of marriage, and for such special cases and proceedings as are not otherwise provided for; and shall also have original jurisdiction in all cases and of all proceedings in which jurisdiction shall not have been by law vested exclusively in some other court, and shall have the power of naturalization and to issue papers therefor. Said courts and their judges shall have power to issue writs of mandamus, quo warrantor, review, certiorari, prohibition and writs of habeas corpus on petition by or on behalf of any person in actual custody in their respective counties. Injunctions and writs of prohibition and of habeas corpus may be issued on legal holidays and nonjudicial days.
|
Superior Courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.08.020 | Appellate jurisdiction |
The superior courts shall have such appellate jurisdiction in cases arising in courts of limited jurisdiction in their respective counties as may be prescribed by law. |
Superior Courts appellate jurisdiction | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.30.010(1) | Findings--Scope of therapeutic court programs |
The legislature finds that judges in the trial courts throughout the state effectively utilize what are known as therapeutic courts to remove a defendant's or respondent's case from the criminal and civil court traditional trial track and allow those defendants or respondents the opportunity to obtain treatment services to address particular issues that may have contributed to the conduct that led to their arrest or other issues before the court. Trial courts have proved adept at creative approaches in fashioning a wide variety of therapeutic courts addressing the spectrum of social issues that can contribute to criminal activity and engagement with the child welfare system.
|
Therapeutic Courts | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 3.66.060 | Criminal jurisdiction |
The district court shall have jurisdiction: (1) Concurrent with the superior court of all misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors committed in their respective counties and of all violations of city ordinances. It shall in no event impose a greater punishment than a fine of five thousand dollars, or imprisonment for one year in the county or city jail as the case may be, or both such fine and imprisonment, unless otherwise expressly provided by statute. It may suspend and revoke vehicle operators' licenses in the cases provided by law; (2) to sit as a committing magistrate and conduct preliminary hearings in cases provided by law; (3) concurrent with the superior court of a proceeding to keep the peace in their respective counties; (4) concurrent with the superior court of all violations under Title 77 RCW; (5) to hear and determine traffic infractions under chapter 46.63 RCW; and (6) to take recognizance, approve bail, and arraign defendants held within its jurisdiction on warrants issued by other courts of limited jurisdiction when those courts are participating in the program established under RCW 2.56.160.
|
District Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 3.50.010 | Municipal court authorized in cities of four hundred thousand or less |
Any city or town with a population of four hundred thousand or less may by ordinance provide for an inferior court to be known and designated as a municipal court, which shall be entitled The Municipal Court of .......... (insert name of city or town), hereinafter designated and referred to as municipal court, which court shall have jurisdiction and shall exercise all powers by this chapter declared to be vested in the municipal court, together with such other powers and jurisdiction as are generally conferred upon such court in this state either by common law or by express statute.
|
Municipal Court | Creation of the courts, Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 3.50.020 | Jurisdiction |
The municipal court shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over traffic infractions arising under city ordinances and exclusive original criminal jurisdiction of all violations of city ordinances duly adopted by the city and shall have original jurisdiction of all other actions brought to enforce or recover license penalties or forfeitures declared or given by such ordinances or by state statutes. A hosting jurisdiction shall have exclusive original criminal and other jurisdiction as described in this section for all matters filed by a contracting city. The municipal court shall also have the jurisdiction as conferred by statute. The municipal court is empowered to forfeit cash bail or bail bonds and issue execution thereon; and in general to hear and determine all causes, civil or criminal, including traffic infractions, arising under such ordinances and to pronounce judgment in accordance therewith. A municipal court participating in the program established by the administrative office of the courts pursuant to RCW 2.56.160 shall have jurisdiction to take recognizance, approve bail, and arraign defendants held within its jurisdiction on warrants issued by any court of limited jurisdiction participating in the program.
|
Municipal Court | Jurisdiction of the courts |
|
Add to Dashboard
|
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 2.06.010 | Court of appeals established--Definitions |
There is hereby established a court of appeals as a court of record. |
Court of Appeals | Creation 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 |