Judicial Courts

• US Court System


  District Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court
• Virginia Courts System


  Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court or General District Court, Circuit Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court
• State courts have jurisdiction over state laws.
• Federal courts have jurisdiction over federal laws.
• In the US court system, where do all cases start?

  District Court
• In a criminal case, the lawsuit is brought by a government entity (the local, state, or federal government)
• A civil case is legal action involving disputes between two or more persons, businesses, or a government agency. In a civil case, the legal action or complaint is brought by a plaintiff
• What is the highest court?


  Supreme Court
• To remember the US courts, just remember SAD. Supreme, Appeals, District.
• The US District Court is run by a judge and jury, and the jurisdiction is original.
• Most federal cases start at District Court
• The US Court of Appeals is run by justices only, with the jurisdiction of appellate
• The US Supreme Court is run by justices only, with the jurisdiction of appellate and limited original
• The VA General District Court is run by a judge, with the jurisdiction of original jurisdiction of misdemeanors, and civil court cases with low money
• The only federal courts with justices and no jury is the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court
• The only state court (VA) with justices and no jury is the Supreme Court
• The only state courts with no jury is the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court
• Remember: plaintiff is civil, prosecutor is criminal