State court (United States)

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In the United States, a state court is a law court with jurisdiction over disputes with some connection to a U.S. state. State courts handle the vast majority of civil and criminal cases in the United States; the United States federal courts are far smaller in terms of both personnel and caseload, and handle different types of cases.[1][2] States often provide their trial courts with general jurisdiction (the hearing of all matters in which personal jurisdiction exists and which are not committed to another court)[3][4] and state trial courts regularly have concurrent jurisdiction with federal courts.[5] Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and their subject-matter jurisdiction arises only under federal law.[4]

Each state "is free to organize its courts as it sees fit," and consequently, "no two states have identical court structures."[6] Generally, state courts are common law courts, and apply their respective state laws and procedures to decide cases.[7] They are organized pursuant to and apply the law in accordance with their state's constitution, state statutes, and binding decisions of courts in their state court hierarchy. Where applicable, they also apply federal law, or need to make a choice of law from another jurisdiction.

Generally, a single judicial officer, usually called a judge, exercises original jurisdiction by presiding over contested criminal or civil actions which culminate in trials, which may include empaneling a jury, although most matters stop short of reaching trial. The decisions of lower courts may be reviewed by a panel of a state court of appeals. Generally, there is also a highest court for appeals, a state supreme court, that oversees the court system. In matters that involve issues of federal law, the final decision of the state's highest court (including refusals to hear final appeals) may be appealed to the United States Supreme Court (which also has the discretion to refuse to hear them).

  1. ^ Manweller, Mathew (2006). "Chapter 2, The Roles, Functions, and Powers of State Courts". In Hogan, Sean O. (ed.). The Judicial Branch of State Government: People, Process, and Politics. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. pp. 37–96. ISBN 9781851097517. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. ^ Friedman, Lawrence M.; Hayden, Grant (2017). American Law: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 56. ISBN 9780190460594. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "General Jurisdiction". Legal Information Institute. Cornell Law School. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  4. ^ a b "Subject Matter Jurisdiction". Legal Information Institute. Cornell Law School. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  5. ^ "Concurrent Jurisdiction". LII / Legal Information Institute. Cornell Law School. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  6. ^ Oakley, John B.; Amar, Vikram D. (2009). American Civil Procedure: A Guide to Civil Adjudication in US Courts. Alphen aan den Rijn: Kluwer Law International. p. 41. ISBN 9789041128720.
  7. ^ Olson, Kent C. (1999). Legal Information: How to Find It, How to Use It. Phoenix: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 282. ISBN 0897749634.