Study Guide: State Courts - Chapter 3

Colonial Courts

• Modeled after English legal traditions.

• Simplified procedures, blending executive, legislative, and judicial roles.

• Adapted to local customs, religion, and trade.

Regional Variations of Colonial Courts

Northern States

Southern States

Northern States

Biblical codes influenced laws

Southern states

Laws shaped by slavery regulations

Early American Courts

• Gradual separation of executive, legislative, and judicial powers.

• Development of independent state court systems.

Modernizing the Courts

• Courts evolved to meet the needs of an industrialized and urbanized society.

• Creation of specialized courts for different case types.

Structure of State Courts

Lower/Inferior Courts (Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction)

• First level of state courts.

• Handle low-level offenses

Low-Level Offenses:

Misdemeanors

Violations/Infractions

Ordinances

Misdemeanors

Punishable by fines or jail time (under 1-2 years).

Violations/Infractions

Punishable by fines or minor jail time

Ordinances

Local laws (e.g., curfews, ATV restrictions)

Statistics of Lower/Inferior Courts

• 11,880 trial courts of limited jurisdiction.

• 27,179 judicial officers.

• 85% of all judicial bodies in the U.S

Major Trial Courts (General Jurisdiction)

• Second level of courts.

• Hear serious criminal and civil cases.

• 3,109 major trial courts.

• 10,740 judges.

• Handle 31.9 million cases per year

Intermediate Courts of Appeal

Review trial court decisions.

Provide legal corrections without going directly to the state supreme court

State Supreme Courts (Courts of Last Resort)

• Highest court in a state.

• Final decision on state legal issues.

Court Unification

• Goal: Streamline and centralize court systems.

• Key Components:

  1. Simplified Court Structure

  2. Centralized Administration

  3. Centralized Rulemaking

  4. Centralized Judicial Budgeting

Simplified Court Structure

• Standardized system with three levels (trial, appellate, and supreme court).

Centralized Administration

Unified leadership for state courts

Centralized Rulemaking

Uniform procedures

Centralized Judicial Budgeting

Courts receive statewide funding

State Three Strikes Laws

• Varies by state.

• Most states require at least one of the three convictions to be violent (e.g., murder, rape, aggravated assault).

• California – Includes firearm violations, burglary, arson, drug crimes.

• Texas – Does not require violent offenses for enhancement.

Problem-Solving Courts (Therapeutic Courts)

• Alternative courts designed to rehabilitate offenders.

• Key Features:

  • Immediate intervention.

  • Non-adversarial process.

  • Judicial involvement in treatment.

  • Team-based approach (judges, attorneys, social workers).

Types of Problem-Solving Courts

1. Drug Courts

2. Juvenile Drug Courts

3. Domestic Violence Courts

4. Mental Health Courts

Technology in Courts

• Courtroom 23 (Orange County, Florida)

  • Most advanced courtroom in the world.

Use of virtual courts and cyber courts