Court System

Plaintiff

The person bringing a complaint or legal action in court.

Defendant

The person being accused or sued in a court of law.

Municipal Court

A court with jurisdiction over municipal ordinance violations and preliminary hearings. Also hear traffic violations in their jurisdiction

Magistrate Court

A court that handles civil claims of $15,000 or less and minor criminal offenses.

Probate Court

A court with exclusive jurisdiction over wills, estates, and guardianship appointments. Held documents include Birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates, and gun permits.

Superior Court

Georgia's general jurisdiction trial court that handles felony cases and major civil actions. Also handle family law cases such as divorce.

Court of Appeals

The court of first review for civil and criminal cases, which ensures legal procedures are followed.

State Supreme Court

The highest court in Georgia that rules on the constitutionality of state statutes and reviews decisions from lower courts.

How judges are selected

In Georgia, judges are elected for varying terms; four years for trial court judges and six years for appellate judges.

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear and decide cases within a certain geographic area and over particular types of subject matter.

Federal Courts

Courts established by the U.S. Constitution with limited jurisdiction, handling cases involving U.S. Constitutional law, federal law, and specific areas like bankruptcy and copyrights.

Dual Court System

A system comprising both federal courts and state courts in the United States.

U.S. District Courts

Trial courts of the Federal Government that have original jurisdiction over federal crimes and civil law.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review a case for errors of law without conducting a new trial.

U.S. Courts of Appeal

Courts that hear appeals from U.S. District Courts, focusing on correcting errors of law rather than factual errors.

U.S. Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States, with authority to hear appeals and original jurisdiction in certain cases.

Writ of Certiorari

A written order from the U.S. Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up records of a case for review.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case when it is first brought to court.

Circuit Courts of Appeals

Intermediate appellate courts that review decisions from U.S. District Courts.

Federal Crime

A crime that violates U.S. federal laws and is typically tried in federal court.

U.S. Constitution

The foundational document establishing the framework of the United States government and the judicial system.

Article 3 of the Constitution

Which article gives Congress the right to create federal courts as they see fit and proper?

State Courts

Courts that are involved in criminal violations, traffic violations, broken contracts, and family disputes