State court (United States)

Structure and jurisdiction

Most state systems are layered into trial courts, intermediate appellate courts (in many states), and a state supreme court. Trial courts may be courts of general jurisdiction that hear a wide range of matters, or limited-jurisdiction courts that focus on specific kinds of cases. Local examples of limited jurisdictions include small claims, traffic, and municipal or justice-of-the-peace courts. Municipal courts often address city ordinances and minor offenses; see municipal courts for similar local institutions.

Common court types and cases

• General trial courts — felonies, major civil lawsuits, and jury trials.
• Specialty and limited courts — family courts, probate, juvenile, housing and small claims.
• Local and municipal bodies — traffic, code enforcement and ordinance violations such as code violations and infractions.

State courts apply state laws to disputes involving residents, businesses and government bodies; many matters affect local citizens directly and sometimes extend to county-level courts.

Appeals and review

Decisions from trial courts can often be appealed to an intermediate appellate court and ultimately to a state supreme court. State supreme courts usually have final authority on state law questions, although federal courts may review state decisions for federal constitutional issues. Appellate courts focus on legal error, not on reweighing factual evidence.

Judges, administration and notable distinctions

States use a mix of judicial selection methods: partisan or nonpartisan elections, appointment, and merit (commission) selection with retention votes. Court administration, funding and procedural rules are controlled at the state level and may include statewide judicial councils or administrative offices. State courts differ from federal courts primarily by subject-matter jurisdiction (state law vs. federal law) and by handling the bulk of everyday legal disputes that affect people’s lives.