Superior court vs trial court

It consists of different levels of courts serving different functions and over judicial officers hearing more than 1. There are two primary levels of Indiana state courts: trial courts and appellate courts. For the most part, appellate courts only handle cases that have already been decided in a trial court. The person who lost at trial wants the appellate-level court to reconsider the case because they wish to challenge the outcome.

But, there is a clear distinction between court and trial. A closer examination of each term is, therefore, necessary. A court is formally referred to as an organized body with powers, meeting at specified times and places for the adjudication of causes and other issues brought before it. It is typically known as the branch of government that is entrusted with the administration of justice. A court or the system of courts is established or created by statute or provisions in the Constitution.

The primary aim of the court is to not only to administer justice but also to enforce the law. Think of a court as an impartial forum or assembly tasked with the responsibility of resolving disputes or issues between parties.

Others, like California, have several. There are also two special Trial Courts that hear certain kinds of cases anywhere in the country:. District Courts are organized into 12 regional circuits and each has a U. Court of Appeals. There is also one Court of Appeals of the Federal Circuit. This court has nationwide jurisdiction to hear appeals in specialized cases, like patent law cases and cases decided by the Court of International Trade and the Court of Federal Claims.

A Court of Appeals hears appeals from the district courts in its circuit. It can also hear appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies. The Supreme Court can choose a limited number of cases from the cases it is asked to decide. Those cases may begin in the Federal or State courts.

And, they usually involve important questions about the Constitution or federal law. These types of cases have to do with the United States government, the United States Constitution, or federal laws. These types of cases happen when the two parties are from different states or different countries. Any diversity jurisdiction case can be filed in State court instead of Federal court. These cases almost always go to State courts. Or, sometimes they are solved by special parts of the Federal Executive or Legislative branches.

For more information about the Federal court system, go to: www. Contact Us. Translate this page:. Overview of the State Court System. Print E-mail. The California Court System In California, the courts are divided into two systems: federal and state. Also, certain kinds of cases go directly to the Supreme Court and are not heard first in the Court of Appeal: Death penalty appeals Disciplinary cases involving judges or lawyers The Court conducts regular sessions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.

The Judicial Council of California In many states the Supreme Court is in charge of the overall administration of the state's courts. The Judicial Council has 27 members who set policies for the California courts: The Chief Justice; 14 judges appointed by the Chief Justice 1 associate justice of the Supreme Court, 3 justices of the Courts of Appeal, and 10 Trial Court judges ; 4 attorney members appointed by the State Bar Board of Governors; 1 member from each house of the Legislature, and Six advisory members, including representatives of the California Judges Association and state court administrative agencies.

The Role of the Judiciary The Judiciary is another word for the court system. Constitutions and laws guarantee you certain rights, including the right to: sue for money owed or for other forms of compensation or help defend yourself against a lawsuit be considered innocent until proven guilty defend yourself against criminal charges a public and speedy jury trial if you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony have a lawyer represent you at public expense if you are charged with a felony or misdemeanor and cannot afford to hire a lawyer Your Responsibilities You are responsible for finding a lawyer who can help you with your case.

How a case moves through the California court system There are two kinds of court cases: civil and criminal. General Civil cases : Cases about contracts, damage to property or someone getting hurt. Family cases : Divorce also called dissolution of marriage , child support and child custody cases.

Juvenile cases : Cases about child abuse and neglect juvenile dependency cases. Or, when someone under 18 breaks the law juvenile justice cases. We give you information about "Unlawful Detainer" cases — this means whether or not the tenant can stay on the property.

The people in the case called the parties represent themselves. Probate cases : Cases about taking care of people and their personal affairs. Read these resources before you start. There are a lot of good reasons to have a lawyer: Lawyers know the law. They know the ins and outs of the little things that can confuse you if you are not used to them.

They know what to do about it. Lawyers know about the judges and how they like to run their courtrooms. They know if you should ask for a jury trial, or a Court trial. Supreme Court and gives Congress the authority to create the lower federal courts.

The Constitution and laws of each state establish the state courts. A court of last resort, often known as a Supreme Court, is usually the highest court. Some states also have an intermediate Court of Appeals. Below these appeals courts are the state trial courts. Some are referred to as Circuit or District Courts. Congress has used this power to establish the 13 U. Courts of Appeals, the 94 U. District Courts, the U. Court of Claims, and the U.