| Superior
Court
The Superior Court
is a trial court of general jurisdiction. The court has exclusive,
constitutional authority over felony cases, prosecuted by the District
Attorney's Office, cases regarding title to land, equity, declaratory
judgments, habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, prohibition, adoptions,
and divorce. Except for certain probate or juvenile matters, this
court may exercise jurisdiction over other cases concurrently with
the limited jurisdiction courts. This court is authorized to correct
errors made by lower courts by issuing certiorari and, for some
lower courts, the right to direct review by this court applies.
Magistrate
Court
The Magistrate court's
jurisdiction encompasses civil claims of $15,000 or less, county
ordinance violations, applications for and issuance of arrest and
search warrants, preliminary hearings, dispossessory writs, and
distress warrants. No jury trials are held in this court. Appeals
from this court are made to the Superior and state courts.
State
Court
The State Court is
a trial court with limited jurisdiction covering misdemeanor and
traffic violations, prosecuted by the Solicitor's Office, and all
civil actions, regardless of the amount, unless the Superior court
has exclusive jurisdiction.
Probate
Court
The Probate Court
exercises jurisdiction in the probate of wills, the administration
of estates, the appointment of guardians, and the involuntary hospitalization
of incapacitated adults and other dependent individuals. This court
also administers oaths of office and issues marriage licenses, gun
permits, birth & death certificates, certificates of residency,
and accepts passport applications.
Juvenile
Court
Jouvenile Court exercises
jurisdiction in cases involving delinquent, unruly, and deprived
children under 17. Juvenile court has concurrent jurisdiction with
the Superior courts involving capital offenses, custody, child support
cases, and termination of parental rights.
Recorder's
Court
The Recorder's Court
has limited misdemeanor jurisdiction in the county's unincorporated
areas. The primary responsibilities of this court are traffic offenses,
zoning violations, and ordinance violations.
Administrative
Office of the Courts (AOC)
This body provides
administrative support to the superior, state, magistrate, probate,
and recorder's courts and acts as liaison between the citizenry
and the courts
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