causes between counties concerning disputed boundaries and surveys thereof or concerning claims of one county against another. 3. Appellate jurisdiction in all actions and proceedings except civil and criminal actions originating in courts not of record, unless the action involves the validity of a tax, impost, assessment, toll, statute or municipal ordinance. 4. Power to issue injunctions and 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. 5. Power to make rules relative to all procedural matters in any court. 6. Such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law. Each justice of the supreme court may issue writs of habeas corpus to any part of the state upon petition by or on behalf of a person held in actual custody, and may make such writs returnable before himself, the supreme court, appellate court or superior court, or judge thereof.

involving crimes for which a sentence of death has actually been imposed. 2. Jurisdiction to issue writs of certiorari to review the lawfulness of awards of the industrial commission and to enter judgment affirming or setting aside the awards. 3. Jurisdiction to issue injunctions and other writs and orders necessary and proper to the complete exercise of its appellate jurisdiction. 4. Jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions for special actions brought pursuant to the rules of procedure for special actions, without regard to its appellate jurisdiction. B. A case or appeal of which the court of appeals has jurisdiction in an action or proceeding originating in or permitted by law to be appealed from the superior court in a county shall be brought or filed in the division which contains that county. An application for a writ of certiorari to review the lawfulness of an award of the industrial commission shall be brought in division 1.

involve the title to or possession of real property, or the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, toll or municipal ordinance. 3. Other cases in which the demand or value of property in controversy amounts to one thousand dollars or more, exclusive of interest and costs. 4. Criminal cases amounting to felony, and cases of misdemeanor not otherwise provided for by law. 5. Actions of forcible entry and detainer. 6. Proceedings in insolvency. 7. Actions to prevent or abate nuisance. 8. Matters of probate. 9. Divorce and for annulment of marriage. 10. Naturalization and the issuance of papers therefor. 11. Special cases and proceedings not otherwise provided for, and such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law.

referendum.

involved, exclusive of interest, costs and awarded attorney fees when authorized by law, is ten thousand dollars or less. C. Justices of the peace have jurisdiction concurrent with the superior court in cases of forcible entry and detainer when the amount involved, exclusive of interest, costs and awarded attorney fees when authorized by law, is ten thousand dollars or less. D. Justices of the peace have jurisdiction to try the right to possession of real property when title or ownership is not a subject of inquiry in the action. If in any such action the title or ownership of real property becomes an issue, the justice shall so certify in the court record, at once stop further proceedings in the action and forward all papers, together with a certified copy of the court record in the action, to the superior court, where the action shall be docketed and determined as though originally brought in the superior court. E. In a county with a population of more than two million persons, the justice of the peace of each justice precinct shall have original jurisdiction to hear the following actions that occur in the respective precinct in which the justice of the peace is elected: 1. Civil actions pursuant to subsections B and C of this section. 2. Small claims pursuant to chapter 5 of this title.1 3. Civil traffic offenses unless a civil traffic offense is filed in a municipal court by a municipal officer or agent or by an officer employed by a law enforcement agency under contract to that municipality to provide law enforcement services. 4. Special detainers and forcible detainers pursuant to title 33, chapters 11 and 192 and forcible detainers pursuant to title 33, chapter 33 if the amount of rent requested is ten thousand dollars or less. F. In actions between landlord and tenant for possession of leased premises, the title to the property leased shall not be raised nor made an issue. G. If in any action before a justice of the peace a party files a verified pleading that states as a counterclaim a claim in which the amount involved, exclusive of interest and costs, is more than ten thousand dollars, the justice of the peace shall certify this in the court record, at once stop further proceedings in the action and forward all papers, together with a certified copy of the court record in the action, to the superior court, where the action shall be docketed and determined as though originally brought in the superior court. The party shall pay to the clerk of the superior court the same fees required to be paid by a defendant, and no other party in the action before the justice of the peace shall be required to pay any sum. If the party is finally adjudged to be entitled to recover on the counterclaim, exclusive of interest and costs, ten thousand dollars or less, the superior court may deny costs to the party and, in addition, may impose costs, including reasonable attorney fees, on the party. The superior court shall have original jurisdiction of the action, but at any time in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or if it appears that the amount involved in the counterclaim, exclusive of interest and costs, is ten thousand dollars or less, it may remand the action, or any claim or counterclaim of which the justice court has jurisdiction, to the justice court and may order costs. H. The justice of the peace may require arbitration or other dispute resolution methods that are approved by the supreme court in all civil actions except eviction actions.

hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail for not to exceed six months, or by both a fine and imprisonment. Any penalty or other added assessments levied shall not be considered as part of the fine for purposes of determining jurisdiction. The amount of restitution, time payment fees or incarceration costs shall not be considered as part of the fine for purposes of determining jurisdiction. 2. Felonies, but only for the purpose of commencing action and conducting proceedings through preliminary examinations and holding the defendant to answer to the superior court or to discharge the defendant if it appears that there is not probable cause to believe the defendant is guilty of an offense. B. In a county with a population of more than two million persons, the justice of the peace of each justice precinct shall have original jurisdiction to hear misdemeanor offenses as set forth in subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section that occur within the respective precinct in which the justice of the peace is elected unless either of the following applies: 1. The offense is filed by a municipal officer or agent in a municipal court. 2. The offense is consolidated with a felony offense in the complaint, information or indictment. C. For the purposes of subsection A or B of this section, an offense is committed within the precinct of a justice court if conduct constituting any element of the offense or a result of such conduct occurs either: 1. Within the precinct. 2. Within a county park that includes a body of water located in two counties if one county has a population of more than three million persons and one county has a population of more than two hundred thousand persons but less than three hundred thousand persons and the precinct includes some part of the county park.

courts inferior to the superior court as may be provided by law, and justice courts.

into 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.

established in a city incorporated under the provisions of title 9, chapter 2, article 51 or incorporated under the provisions of a special act or charter, has jurisdiction of all cases arising under the ordinances of the city or town, and has jurisdiction concurrently with justices of the peace of precincts in which the city or town is located, of violations of laws of the state committed within the limits of the city or town. C. Notwithstanding subsections A and B and in lieu of establishing or maintaining a municipal court, a city or town may enter into an intergovernmental agreement as authorized by title 11, chapter 7, article 32 to provide the services of a municipal court, including the jurisdiction of all cases arising under the ordinances of the city or town, with either: 1. A justice of the peace in whose jurisdiction the city or town is located and the county in which the city or town is located. 2. Another city or town located within the same county as the city or town.

it may issue all writs and processes to such courts and to corporations and individuals which may be necessary to the furtherance of justice and to the regular execution of the laws.

In addition to the foregoing, the justices of the supreme judicial court shall also have general superintendence of the administration of all courts of inferior jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the prompt hearing and disposition of matters pending therein, and the functions set forth in section 3C; and it may issue such writs, summonses and other processes and such orders, directions and rules as may be necessary or desirable for the furtherance of justice, the regular execution of the laws, the improvement of the administration of such courts, and the securing of their proper and efficient administration; provided, however, that general superintendence shall not include the authority to supersede any general or special law unless the supreme judicial court, acting under its original or appellate jurisdiction finds such law to be unconstitutional in any case or controversy. Nothing herein contained shall affect existing law governing the selection of officers of the courts, or limit the existing authority of the officers thereof to appoint administrative personnel.

where a majority of the justices of the appeals court deciding the case, or of the appeals court as a whole, certifies that the public interest or the interests of justice make desirable a further appellate review, or (b) where leave to obtain further appellate review or late review is specifically authorized by three justices of the supreme judicial court for substantial reasons affecting the public interest or the interests of justice. Upon the written order of a majority of the justices of the appeals court, the decision of a panel of the appeals court may be reviewed and revised by a majority of the justices of the appeals court. Such a review shall not be a condition precedent to obtaining further appellate review by the supreme judicial court.

to the rules and principles of common law and the Constitution and laws of the commonwealth, and subject to the appellate jurisdiction, supervision and superintendence of the supreme judicial court. The appeals court shall have original jurisdiction over the enforcement or review of final orders of the labor relations commission issued pursuant to section six or section six A of chapter one hundred and fifty A or section eleven of chapter one hundred and fifty E.

Section 10. Subject to such further appellate review by the supreme judicial court as may be permitted pursuant to section eleven or otherwise, the appeals court shall have concurrent appellate jurisdiction with the supreme judicial court, to the extent review is otherwise allowable, with respect to a determination made in the appellate tax board and in the superior court department, the housing court department, the land court department, the probate and family court department, the Boston municipal court department in criminal session, the Boston municipal court department appellate division, the juvenile court department, the district court department in criminal session, and the district court department appellate divisions, except in review of convictions for first degree murder. A report from any such department of the trial court of any case, in whole or in part, or any question of law arising therein shall be deemed to be within the concurrent appellate jurisdiction of the supreme judicial court and the appeals court.

Without regard to whether review is by appeal, report or otherwise, appellate review of decisions made in the appellate tax board and in the superior court department, the housing court department, the land court department, the probate and family court department, the Boston municipal court department and the appellate division thereof, the juvenile court department, and the district court department, and the appellate divisions thereof, if within the jurisdiction of the appeals court, shall be in the first instance by the appeals court except in the following cases in which appellate review shall be directly by the supreme judicial court without the necessity of any prior hearing or decision by the appeals court on the merits of the issues sought to be reviewed:

(A) Whenever two justices of the supreme judicial court issue an order direct review by the supreme judicial court in any case on appeal, either at the request of one of the parties or at the court's own initiative, upon finding that the questions to be decided are: (1) questions of first impression or novel questions of law which should be submitted for final determination to the supreme judicial court; (2) questions of law concerning the Constitution of the commonwealth or questions concerning the Constitution of the United States which have been raised in a court of the commonwealth; (3) questions of such public interest that justice requires a final determination by the supreme judicial court.

(B) Whenever the appeals court as a body or a majority of the justices of the appeals court considering a particular case certifies that direct review by the supreme judicial court is in the public interest.

in the court of the district court department, or in the Boston municipal court department, as the case may be, within which judicial district the offense was allegedly committed or is otherwise made punishable:— all violations of by–laws, orders, ordinances, rules and regulations, made by cities, towns and public officers, all misdemeanors, except libels, all felonies punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five–years, the crimes listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section eight of chapter ninety B, subparagraph (1) of paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of section twenty–four, paragraph (a) of section twenty–four G and paragraph (1) of section twenty–four L of chapter ninety, paragraph (a) of section thirty–two and paragraph (a) of section thirty–two A of chapter ninety–four C, and section thirty–two J of chapter ninety–four C, section 38B of chapter 127, section one hundred and thirty–one E of chapter one hundred and forty, sections thirteen K, 15A, 15D, 21A and 26 of chapter two hundred and sixty–five and sections sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty–eight, thirty, forty–nine and one hundred and twenty–seven of chapter two hundred and sixty–six, and sections one, fifteen and fifteen A of chapter two hundred and seventy–three, and the crimes of malicious destruction of personal property under section one hundred and twenty–seven of chapter two hundred and sixty–six, indecent assault and battery on a child under fourteen years of age, offenses under section 13B of chapter 268, conspiracy under section 7 of chapter 274, solicitation to commit a felony under section 8 of said chapter 274, escape or attempt to escape from any penal institution, forgery of a promissory note, or of an order for money or other property, and of uttering as true such a forged note or order, knowing the same to be forged. They shall have jurisdiction of proceedings referred to them under the provisions of section four A of chapter two hundred and eleven.

hundred and twelve shall be within the territorial jurisdiction of the court both in Norfolk county and in Plymouth county, and arrests and service of process in such cases may be made by an officer qualified to serve criminal process in Cohasset. Crimes committed in any part of Cambridge, Watertown or Newton lying in the Charles river basin shall be within the territorial jurisdiction of the court both in Middlesex county and in Suffolk county.

and no order, decree, judgment, sentence, warrant, writ or process made, issued or pronounced by them need set out any adjudication or circumstances with greater particularity than would be required in other courts of superior and general jurisdiction, and the like presumption shall be made in favor of proceedings of such courts as would be made in favor of proceedings of other courts of superior and general jurisdiction. Each district court shall have a seal, which shall be in the custody of its clerk, and shall be affixed to all processes issued by such court requiring a seal.

Section 19C. The district court and Boston municipal court departments of the trial court shall have the same equitable powers and jurisdiction as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 214 and the same authority with regard to declaratory judgments as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 231A for the purpose of the hearing and disposition of summary process actions and of civil actions for money damages under section 19 of this chapter. The district courts shall have original jurisdiction in rem and personam of all actions arising under sections one hundred and twenty-seven A to one hundred and twenty-seven K, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and eleven. The district courts shall have equity powers only to the extent necessary to enforce the aforementioned sections, including the power to appoint receivers, grant injunctions and issue restraining orders as justice and equity may require and for punishing civil contempt of orders, rulings and decrees made or pronounced in the exercise of this jurisdiction. Subject to the approval of the supreme judicial court, the chief justice for the district court department may from time to time promulgate rules and prescribe forms for the efficient operation of such equity sessions in the courts of the district court department; and in the Boston municipal court department the chief justice for said department may promulgate such rules and prescribe such forms. Section 19C. The district court and Boston municipal court departments of the trial court shall have the same equitable powers and jurisdiction as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 214 and the same authority with regard to declaratory judgments as is provided for the superior court pursuant to chapter 231A for the purpose of the hearing and disposition of summary process actions and of civil actions for money damages under section 19 of this chapter. The district courts shall have original jurisdiction in rem and personam of all actions arising under sections one hundred and twenty-seven A to one hundred and twenty-seven K, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and eleven. The district courts shall have equity powers only to the extent necessary to enforce the aforementioned sections, including the power to appoint receivers, grant injunctions and issue restraining orders as justice and equity may require and for punishing civil contempt of orders, rulings and decrees made or pronounced in the exercise of this jurisdiction. Subject to the approval of the supreme judicial court, the chief justice for the district court department may from time to time promulgate rules and prescribe forms for the efficient operation of such equity sessions in the courts of the district court department; and in the Boston municipal court department the chief justice for said department may promulgate such rules and prescribe such forms.

of the district court department; and all laws relating to district courts or municipal courts in their respective counties or officials thereof or proceedings therein, shall, so far as applicable, apply to said divisions of the juvenile court department.

The divisions of the juvenile court department shall also have jurisdiction in equity concurrent with the supreme judicial court and with the superior court department in all cases and matters arising under the provisions of chapters 119 and 210.

is charged with an offense or offenses against the commonwealth for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed and over which the district courts may exercise final jurisdiction and who has not previously been convicted of a violation of any law of the commonwealth or of any other state or of the United States in any criminal court proceeding after having reached the age of 18 years, except for traffic violations for which no term of imprisonment may have been imposed, who does not have any outstanding warrants, continuances, appeals or criminal cases pending before any courts of the commonwealth or any other state or of the United States, and who has received a recommendation from a program that he would, in light of the capacities of and guidelines governing it, benefit from participation in said program.