The Green Papers
The Green Papers
Judicial Branch
State Court Systems in the United States of America

Portrait Format   Landscape Format

State Court
Alabama
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court (1819--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals (1910-1969) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • Court of Civil Appeals (1969--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • Court of Criminal Appeals (1969--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • Circuit Court (1819--) Constitutional Court [IN: circuit FOR: county]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • County Court (--1977) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: county]
    • Recorder's Court (--1977) Statutory Court [FOR: municpality]
    • Justices of the Peace (1819-1977) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county-1875: precinct]
    • District Court (1975--) Statutory Court [FOR: county]
    • Municipal Court (1975--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Chancery Court (1819--) Constitutional Court [IN: division & district FOR: county. Authorized by the State's Constitutions, over the years, to be a separate court but its equity jurisdiction has, historically, been exercised by the Circuit Court.]
    • Probate Court (1819--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
Alaska
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court (1960--) Constitutional Court [FOR: statewide]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals (1980--) Statutory Court [FOR: statewide]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • District Court (1884-1959) Constitutional Court [FOR: entire District(-1912-)Territory]
    • Superior Court (1959--) Constitutional Court [FOR: borough or equivalent]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • Municipal Court (1912-1959) Statutory Court [FOR: municipality]
    • District Court (1959--) Statutory Court [FOR: judicial district]
    • Magistrate Court (1960--) Statutory Court [FOR: municipality]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Commissioners' Court (1900-1959) Constitutional Court [FOR: entire District(-1912-) Territory]
American Samoa
Arizona
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court (1912--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals (1965--) Statutory Court [IN: division FOR: State]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • Superior Court (1912--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • Police Justices Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: municipality]
    • Municipal Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality]
    • Justices of the Peace (1863--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: precinct]
Arkansas
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court (1836--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals (1979--) Constitutional Court [IN: district FOR: State]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • Circuit Court (1836--) Constitutional Court [IN: circuit FOR: county]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • Police Court (--2003) Statutory Court [FOR: municipality. Jurisdiction taken over by the District Court.]
    • Municipal Court/Mayor's Court (--1971) Statutory Court [FOR: municipality]
    • Justices of the Peace (1836-2001) Constitutional Court [IN: township FOR: township or county. Jurisdiction taken over by the District Court]
    • County Court (1836-1868) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. Also functioned as the county governing body]
    • Corporation Courts (1836--) Constitutional Court [FOR: municipality]
    • Supervisors' Court (1868-1874) Statutory Court [FOR: county]
    • County Court (1874-2003) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. Also functioned as the county governing body (in this capacity, known as the QUORUM COURT= justices of the peace of the county meeting with the county Judge; after 2001, the justices of the peace no longer exercised judicial functions and this also became true of the county Judge after 2003: however, the QUORUM COURT in this form still exists as the governing body of the county). Judicial jurisdiction taken over by the District Court.]
    • Court of Common Pleas (1874-2001) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. Jurisdiction taken over by the District Court]
    • City Court (1971--) Statutory Court [FOR: municipality]
    • District Court (2001--) Statutory Court [IN: district FOR: county. Had been known as Municipal Court before taking over jurisdiction of Court of Common Pleas and Justice of the Peace Courts in 2001; also took over jurisdiction of County Court and Police Court in 2003]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Court of Probate (1836-2001) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. Beginning in 2002, the jurisdiction of this court was taken over by the Circuit Court]
    • Court of Chancery (1836-2001) Constitutional Court [IN: district FOR: county. Beginning in 2002, the jurisdiction of this court was taken over by the Circuit Court]
California
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court (1850--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • [District] Courts of Appeal (1905--) Constitutional Court [IN: district FOR: State]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • District Court (1849-1879) Constitutional Court [IN: district FOR: county]
    • Superior Court (1879--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. Beginning in 1998, Municipal Courts began transferring their functions to the Superior Courts of their respective counties: this process was completed throughout the State by July 2000; thus, from mid-2000 on, the Superior Courts have exercised what was formerly the province of courts of limited jurisdiction in addition to the general trial jurisdiction it has always had since replacing the old District Court]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • Court of Sessions (1849-1862) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. Court of Sessions was held by County Court judge and two justices of the peace]
    • Justices of the Peace (1849-1928) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county or municipality(-1862-)township or municipality]
    • Municipal Court (1849-1862) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality]
    • County Court (1862-1879) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
    • Recorder's Court (1862-1879) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality]
    • Justice Court (1928-1995) Constitutional Court [IN: township, later:"justice" district FOR: township, later: "justice" district. In 1995, any remaining Justice Courts were changed into Municipal Courts and their former justice districts, thereby, became municipal court districts of their respective counties]
    • Municipal Court (1928-2000) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: municipality, later: "municipal court" district. Each county in California was divided into municipal court districts once the Justice Courts were defunct, with the former justice court districts having become municipal court districts. Beginning in June 1998, upon a majority vote of the Superior Court judges and the municipal court judges in any county, the municipal courts (and their judges) of that county were allowed to become subsumed within the Superior Court of that county: by July 2000, all Municipal Courts in California had transferred their functions to the Superior Court in and for their respective counties.]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • County Court (1849-1862) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
    • Probate Court (1862-1879) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
Colorado
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court (1876--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals (1891-1905) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • Court of Appeals (1912-1915) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • Court of Appeals (1970--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • District Court (1876--) Constitutional Court [IN: district FOR: county]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • Municipal Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality]
    • Justices of the Peace (1876-1965) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: precinct]
    • County Court (1965--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Criminal Court (1876--) Constitutional Court [FOR: county]
    • County Court (1876-1965) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
    • Denver Juvenile Court (1965--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: City and County of Denver]
    • Denver Probate Court (1965--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: City and County of Denver]
Connecticut
  • Court of Last Resort
    • General Court (1638-1784) Constitutional Court [FOR: colony/state as a whole. the General Court was also the colonial legislature and continued to function, after Independence in 1776, as CONNECTICUT's State legislature until 1818 when its colonial Charter was replaced by a new State Constitution.]
    • Supreme Court of Errors (1784-1965) Constitutional Court [FOR: state as a whole. Until 1818 the Senate, the upper house of the otherwise legislative General Court, functioned also as the State's highest court under this name: under CONNECTICUT's 1st State Constitution, the judges of what was- to this point- a statewide Superior Court were elevated to become justices of this court which, in turn, was completely separated from the legislative branch]
    • Supreme Court (1966--) Constitutional Court [FOR: state as a whole]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Appellate Court (1983--) Constitutional Court [FOR: state as a whole]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • Particular Court (1638-1666) [FOR: colony as a whole]
    • Court of Assistants (1666-1715) [FOR: colony as a whole. often also called the "Superior Court" after 1687, the 'Assistants' also functioned as the upper legislative house of the General Court (until replaced by the State Senate in 1784) as well as the "Governor's Council" (hence their title, as they were seen- in this capacity- as assisting the Governor): was authorized to hear "major trials" (usually, but not always, criminal in nature); also had appellate jurisdiction over County and other lower courts.]
    • County Court (1666-1715) [IN and FOR: county. authorized to hear "minor trials" (usually civil)-- was aso called "Prerogative Court" when hearing cases at Equity and "Court of Common Pleas" when hearing suits at Law; also functioned as Administrative body of County, in which capacity was often called "Quarter Court" (since it met every three months for such purposes)]
    • Superior Court (1715--) Constitutional Court [IN: colony/state (-1818-) county FOR: county (-1978-) county-based 'judicial district'. originally, a colony/state-wide Court with judges "riding circuit" in order to try cases in each County: in 1818, the judges of this court were elevated to become the Supreme Court of Errors; after 1818, judges of a new county-based court took over this court's name and jurisdiction]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • City Court (--1978) Statutory Court [FOR: municipality]
    • Police Court (--1978) Statutory Court [FOR: municipality]
    • Municipal Court (--1978) Statutory Court [FOR: municipality]
    • Justices of the Peace (1638-1974) [IN and FOR: town(ship). phased out as a judicial office over the period between 1961 and 1974]
    • Quarter Court (1715-1855) Statutory Court [FOR: county. in effect, the continuation of the old 'County Court' supplanted by the Superior Court and, as such, continued to serve as County administrative body until supplanted by County Boards of Commissioners; colloquially referred to as "Court of Common Pleas" when it heard cases, "County Court" in general]
    • Court of Common Pleas (1855-1978) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: county]
    • District Court (1961-1974) Statutory Court [FOR: district]
    • Circuit Court (1961-1974) Statutory Court [FOR: district]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Probate Court (1698--) Constitutional Court [FOR: county (-1719-) town(ship)-based 'probate district']
Delaware
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Court of Appeals (1776-1792) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • High Court of Errors and Appeals (1792-1831) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • Court of Errors and Appeals (1831-1897) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • Supreme Court (1897--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • Supreme Court (1776-1831) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace and Gaol Delivery (1792-1831) Constitutional Court [IN: State FOR: county]
    • Court of General Sessions of the Peace and General Jail-Delivery (1831-1897) Constitutional Court [IN: State FOR: county]
    • Superior Court (1831--) Constitutional Court [IN: State FOR: county]
    • Court of General Sessions (1897-1951) Constitutional Court [IN: State FOR: county. Functions of Court of General Sessions (principally a criminal court) transferred to Superior Court (heretofore principally a civil court)]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • Justices of the Peace Constitutional Court [IN: county FOR: hundred, later: district]
    • Alderman's Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality]
    • Court of Common Pleas (1776-1792) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
    • Court of Common Pleas (1792-1831) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
    • Court of Common Pleas (1831--) Statutory Court [IN: State FOR: county]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Wilmington Municipal Court (--1998) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: City of Wilmington. In 1998, all jurisdiction exercised by the Municipal Court of Wilmington was transferred to the Justice of the Peace Courts already having jurisdiction in that city]
    • Orphans' Court (1776-1975) Constitutional Court [IN: State FOR: county]
    • Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol-Delivery (1792-1831) Constitutional Court [IN: State FOR: county]
    • Chancery Court (1792--) Constitutional Court [IN: State FOR: county]
    • Register's Court (1792-1975) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
    • Court of Oyer and Terminer (1831-1951) Constitutional Court [IN: State FOR: county. Functions of Court of Oyer and Terminer (which heard cases involving the most serious crimes) transferred to Superior Court along with functions of Court of General Sessions]
    • Family Court (1977--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: county]
District of Columbia
Florida
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • [District] Courts of Appeal (1957--) [IN: district FOR: State]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • Circuit Court Constitutional Court [IN: circuit FOR: county]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • Justice of the Peace Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county (-1887-) district]
    • Municipal Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality. authorized by the State's 3rd and 4th Constitutions]
    • Criminal Court of Record Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. under State's 4th Constitution]
    • [Civil] Court of Record Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. under the State's 4th Constitution; where established, it replaced the County Court (but not the County Judge)]
    • County Judge Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. separate from the County Court: under the State's 4th Constitution]
    • Corporation Court (1845-1868) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: municipality. authorized by the State's 1st and 2nd Constitutions]
    • County Court (1868--) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Court of Chancery (1845-1868) Constitutional Court
    • Judge of Probate (1865-1868) Constitutional Court
Georgia
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Guam
Hawaii
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Intermediate Court of Appeals
Idaho
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals (1982--) [IN and FOR: State]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • District Court Constitutional Court [IN: district FOR: county]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • Justice of the Peace (--1971) Constitutional Court [IN: precinct FOR: county]
    • Magistrate Division (1971--) [IN and FOR: county. part of the District Court: primarily intended to replace the Justices of the Peace as well as take on former Probate Court jurisdiction]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Probate Court (--1971) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: county. functions transferred to Magistrate Division]
Illinois
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Appellate Court [IN: district FOR: State]
Indiana
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: State]
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals (1890--) Statutory Court [IN: district FOR: State. originally known as "Appellate Court"]
  • General Trial Jurisdiction
    • Circuit Court Constitutional Court [IN: circuit FOR: county]
  • Limited Jurisdiction
    • City Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: city. was originally to be abolished statewide in 1979, but abolition was then delayed by legislative action thru 1982; incorporated cities since have been given local option re: abolishing this court on their own.]
    • Town Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: town. was originally to be abolished statewide in 1979, but abolition was then delayed by legislative action thru 1982; incorporated towns since have been given local option re: abolishing this court on their own.]
    • Superior Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: county. optional: usually, but not always, established in counties with no County Court; some counties, however, have both a Superior Court and a County Court.]
    • Municipal Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: consolidated Marion County-City of Indianapolis]
    • Justices of the Peace (1816-1975) Constitutional Court [IN and FOR: township]
    • County Court (1975--) Statutory Court [IN and FOR: county. optional: originally intended to replace Justices of the Peace in those counties without a Superior Court]
  • Special Jurisdiction
    • Probate Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: county. optional]
    • Small Claims Court Statutory Court [IN and FOR: county. optional]
Iowa
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Kansas
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Kentucky
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Louisiana
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Courts of Appeal [IN: circuit FOR: State]
Maine
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Judicial Court
Maryland
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Court of Appeals
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Special Appeals
Massachusetts
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Judicial Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Appeals Court
Michigan
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Minnesota
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Mississippi
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Missouri
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Courts of Appeals [IN: district FOR: State]
Montana
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
Nebraska
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Nevada
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
New Hampshire
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
New Jersey
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Superior Court: Appellate Division
New Mexico
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
New York
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Court of Appeals
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Supreme Court: Appellate Division [IN: department FOR: State]
    • Supreme Court: Appellate Term [IN: department FOR: State]
North Carolina
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
North Dakota
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Northern Marianas
Ohio
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Courts of Appeals [IN: district FOR: County]
Oklahoma
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
    • Court of Criminal Appeals
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Civil Appeals
Oregon
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Pennsylvania
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Superior Court
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
South Carolina
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
South Dakota
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
Tennessee
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals [IN: grand division FOR: State]
    • Court of Criminal Appeals [IN: grand division FOR: State]
Texas
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
    • Court of Criminal Appeals
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Courts of Appeals [IN: district FOR: State/County]
Utah
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Vermont
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
Virgin Islands
Virginia
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals
Washington
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals [IN: division FOR: State]
West Virginia
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court of Appeals
Wisconsin
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
  • Intermediate Appellate Court
    • Court of Appeals [IN: district FOR: State]
Wyoming
  • Court of Last Resort
    • Supreme Court
State Court
 

State and Local Government Outline


Modified .