State Court SystemBy: Ashanti, Glenn, Timmy, Julie

Local Trail System

➢ Also Known As: small-claims court

➢ Involve small disputes

➢ Limited jurisdiction

○ court handles minor matters

➢ Minor cases are heard by traffic, police, or mayor’s courts

General Trial Courts

➢ They handle criminal and civil cases

➢ Also Known As: General Jurisdiction

Juvenile Courts

➢ Deal with kids who are under the age of 18

➢ Most juvenile matters are sealed meaning like other courts they are not an

open court to protect the privacy of the minor.

➢ No right to a trial by a jury

➢ No rights to be released on bail

➢ According to the Supreme Court, there must be a prove beyond a

reasonable doubt to convict a child as an adult.

Intermediate Appellate Court

➢ Some of the court parties believed that they did not have a fair trial in the

lower courts

➢ They hear appeals only on questions of law

➢ No witnesses are testify

➢ Appeals judges hear arguments from attorney

○ study documents and record in the case

State Supreme Courts

➢ They decide matters of law appealed from lower courts

➢ They do not:

○ hold a second trial

○ look at facts in the case

➢ They decide whether the lower court made a mistake in interpreting or

applying the law

➢ Some may be appealed to the United States Supreme Court