The Federal and The Federal and State Court State Court

SystemSystem

A Dual Court A Dual Court SystemSystem

Essential VocabularyEssential Vocabulary AppealAppeal AppellateAppellate JurisdictionJurisdiction FelonyFelony MisdemeanorsMisdemeanors CivilCivil DistrictDistrict MagistrateMagistrate SubpoenasSubpoenas SummonsSummons

Virginia Court SystemVirginia Court System Virginia Virginia , like , like

each of the other each of the other 49 states, has its 49 states, has its own court system own court system whose organization whose organization and jurisdiction are and jurisdiction are derived from derived from Virginia’s Virginia’s constitution and constitution and state laws.state laws.

Juvenile and Domestic Juvenile and Domestic RelationsRelations District Court: VADistrict Court: VA

(Judge/no Jury)(Judge/no Jury)Juvenile Juvenile and and family family casescases

General District Court: VAGeneral District Court: VA (Judge/no jury)(Judge/no jury)

Original Original jurisdiction of jurisdiction of misdemeanormisdemeanors s

Civil cases Civil cases less than less than $1000$1000

Virginia Circuit CourtVirginia Circuit Court (Judge and Jury)(Judge and Jury)

Original Original jurisdiction for jurisdiction for felony criminal felony criminal cases and civil cases and civil cases over cases over $1,000$1,000

Appellate Appellate jurisdiction from jurisdiction from district courtsdistrict courts

Court of Appeals ofCourt of Appeals of VirginiaVirginia

(Judges/no Jury)(Judges/no Jury)

Appellate Appellate jurisdictiojurisdiction from n from circuit circuit courtscourts

Virginia Supreme CourtVirginia Supreme Court (Justices/no jury)(Justices/no jury)

Court of Final Court of Final AppealAppeal

Appellate Appellate JurisdictionJurisdiction

Limited Limited original original jurisdictionjurisdiction

Magistrates Magistrates (helps judges)(helps judges)

Magistrates Magistrates issue search issue search warrants, warrants, subpoenas, subpoenas, arrest warrants, arrest warrants, and summons. and summons.

Magistrates may Magistrates may also set bail. also set bail.

The United States Court SystemThe United States Court System The United StatesThe United States

has a separate has a separate court system whose court system whose organization and organization and jurisdiction are jurisdiction are derived from the derived from the Constitution of the Constitution of the United States of United States of America and America and Federal laws.Federal laws.

U.S. District CourtU.S. District Court (Judge with Jury)(Judge with Jury)

Jurisdiction: Jurisdiction: OriginalOriginal

U.S. Court of AppealsU.S. Court of Appeals (Justices/no jury)(Justices/no jury)

JurisdictioJurisdiction: n: AppellateAppellate

U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court ( Justices/No Jury)( Justices/No Jury)

JurisdictionJurisdiction: Appellate : Appellate and and Limited Limited OriginalOriginal

Questions! (VA Court System)Questions! (VA Court System) Which Virginia court has a jury?Which Virginia court has a jury? Which Virginia Court has original Which Virginia Court has original

jurisdiction for misdemeanors?jurisdiction for misdemeanors? Which Virginia Court has original Which Virginia Court has original

jurisdiction for felonies?jurisdiction for felonies? Which Virginia court has limited Which Virginia court has limited

original jurisdiction?original jurisdiction? Which Virginia court has appellate Which Virginia court has appellate

jurisdiction from circuit courts?jurisdiction from circuit courts? Which Virginia court has original Which Virginia court has original

jurisdiction for civil cases over jurisdiction for civil cases over $1,000?$1,000?