(country courts)
Federal courts of general jurisdiction (US District Courts, etc.) handle both civil and criminal cases.
In Alabama, Circuit Courts have more general jurisdiction over all types of cases, while District Courts have more limited jurisdiction. Practically, this means that in criminal matters, Circuit Courts hear the more serious cases like felonies, while District Courts generally hear the misdemeanors and ordinance violations. For civil cases, Circuit Courts generally handle matters where the amount in dispute is over $10,000. Circuit Courts and District Courts share jurisdiction over cases where the amount in dispute is less than $10,000 but more than $3,000; District Courts almost always hear the cases where the amount in dispute is less than $3,000 (small claims). In juvenile matters, the courts share jurisdiction but will operate as separate juvenile courts and maintain separate dockets. Circuit courts almost always hear domestic relations cases. For more information on this question and questions like it, check out the linked Court Reference website. It has great explanations of the court structures in different states as well as thousands of useful court-related links.
A: Only federal courts handle cases between citizens of different states
Article 1 of the constitution
Arizona's trial court system includes Superior Courts, Justice Courts, Municipal Courts, and Magistrate Courts. Superior Courts have jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. Each county in Arizona has at least one Superior Court. Civil cases heard by Superior Courts include divorce, property cases, probate, estate, municipal ordinance legality, insolvency proceedings, and claims over $10,000. For claims of $5,001- $10,000, the Superior Courts share jurisdiction with the Justice Courts. The types of criminal cases handled by Superior Courts include felonies and some misdemeanors. Superior Courts also have a special panel, called the Tax Court, which handles cases involving the legality of a tax.
Cases involving county law violations are typically handled by local or county courts, often referred to as municipal courts or district courts, depending on the jurisdiction. These courts address misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, and other local ordinance breaches. In some counties, specialized divisions may exist to manage specific types of cases, such as housing or zoning violations. Overall, the structure may vary by state, but local courts are primarily responsible for enforcing county laws.
In Georgia, misdemeanor violations, including traffic cases, fall under the jurisdiction of the State Court. State Courts handle various misdemeanors and traffic offenses, as well as civil cases with claims up to $15,000. Additionally, municipal courts may also handle certain traffic violations and local ordinance violations.
It may depend on what county you are in and what kind of county court it has - jurisdiction of individual county courts varies widely. Criminal cases heard by Constitutional County Courts include some Class A and Class B misdemeanors. Constitutional County Courts may exercise exclusive jurisdiction over some misdemeanors and may share jurisdiction over certain types of cases with Justice Courts, other County Courts and District Courts. Criminal cases heard by County Courts at Law include most misdemeanors. County Courts at Law may have exclusive jurisdiction over some misdemeanors that do not have a potential penalty of incarceration. County Courts at Law may also handle violations of health or safety ordinances. For specific information regarding the county courts in your county, see the related link.
they have original jurisdiction over most federal cases
Most criminal cases are heard in state courts because criminal law is primarily under the jurisdiction of state governments. States have their own criminal codes and court systems to handle cases involving violations of state laws. Federal courts typically only hear criminal cases involving violations of federal laws.
Magistrate courts typically handle minor criminal offenses, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims cases, and issuance of search warrants and arrest warrants. They often serve as the first-level courts in the legal system and help alleviate the caseload of higher courts.
Arkansas Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over civil cases with claims over $100. District Courts handle all civil cases with claims of $100 or less, and don't handle civil cases with claims over $25,000. For civil cases with claims between $100 and $25,000, both courts share jurisdiction. How they split them up varies from county to county. For criminal cases, Circuit Courts hear most felonies and some misdemeanors while District Courts hear most misdemeanors. Circuit Courts can refer criminal cases to District Court, but not vice versa. District Courts also handle traffic tickets and local ordinance violations. Circuit Courts usually handle all domestic relations (divorce, custody, support, etc), juvenile, and probate cases. There are actually two types of District Courts: State District Courts and Local District Courts. If all parties consent, a Circuit Court may refer a civil, family, or probate case to a State District Court but not to a Local District Court. The related link below has more details about Arkansas courts and the types of cases they handle, as well as contact information and resources for courts in each county.
. . . . ANY violations of federal laws and regulations, both civil and criminal, including the tax codes.
In state cities and townships, traffic courts have limited jurisdiction and typically handle cases related to traffic violations and infractions. These courts do not handle more serious criminal offenses and focus primarily on traffic-related issues, such as speeding tickets, parking violations, and other minor traffic offenses.
The two lowest courts in Missouri are the Municipal Courts and the Associate Circuit Courts. Municipal Courts handle violations of city ordinances and minor criminal cases, while Associate Circuit Courts address civil cases involving lower amounts and misdemeanor criminal cases. Both serve as entry points for the state's judicial system before cases may escalate to higher courts.
At the trial court level, there are two main courts that hear civil cases in Colorado - District Courts and County Courts. District Courts have general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, but generally hear cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts, including Family Law cases. County Courts hear small claims cases and other civil cases with under $15,000 in dispute, as well as limited criminal cases including misdemeanors. Colorado also has Municipal Courts, which mostly hear cases regarding violations of city and town ordinances, but also share jurisdiction with District and County courts over civil protection orders. Each county in Colorado has a District and County Court, though some counties combine the District and County court functions into one court. Each Colorado county also has at least one municipal court (except for Denver County), and some counties have several. Colorado also has several additional courts that hear civil cases. The Colorado Water Courts hear cases regarding water rights and usage at seven locations throughout the state. Denver County has specialized courts for Juvenile and Probate matters, in addition to a County Court and District Court. For more information on courts in Colorado, including a directory of state courts organized by county, and a directory of online court resources, visit the Colorado Courts Guide related link.
County courts typically handle a variety of cases, including civil disputes, family law matters, criminal cases, and small claims. They may address issues such as divorce, child custody, property disputes, and misdemeanors. Additionally, county courts often serve as the first level of appeal for certain cases from lower courts or administrative agencies. Their jurisdiction can vary by state, so the specific types of cases may differ accordingly.