county courts
Regional civil courts
County courts are local judicial bodies with jurisdiction limited to a specific county.
In the United States, they typically handle minor civil disputes, small claims, traffic violations, and preliminary criminal matters.
In England and Wales, county courts hear most civil cases below a certain monetary threshold.
The scope and authority varies significantly by jurisdiction: She filed her landlord dispute in county court.
One who decides
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- bailiffLegal proceeding overseer
- clerkOffice record-keeper
- registrarKeeper of official records
public defender · prosecutor · attorney · lawyer · jury · witness · litigant · interpreter
Legal dispute process
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- small claimsLow-value legal actions
- tortActionable civil harm
contract · damages · summons · complaint · negligence · family law · estate · injunction
Court's case schedule
- hearingPerceiving sound waves
- motionChange in position
- filingStoring documents systematically
- subpoenaWrit requiring testimony
testimony · evidence · cross-examination · discovery · deposition · continuance · ruling · judgment
Charge-reading court session
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- pleaFormal request or defense
bail · sentencing · verdict · conviction · acquittal · probation · community service · fine
Place of occurrence
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- judicial districtCourt's geographic boundary
- subject matterContent under discussion
- appellateRelating to appeals
original jurisdiction · transfer · remand · concurrent · exclusive
Shared seating surface
- chambersEnclosed functional rooms
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- witness standPlace for giving testimony
- jury boxCourtroom seating for peers
docket · gavel · robe · oath · bar · clerk's office · waiting area
judge
One who decides
- magistrateCivil judicial officer
- bailiffLegal proceeding overseer
- clerkOffice record-keeper
registrar · public defender · prosecutor · attorney · lawyer · jury · witness · litigant · interpreter · mediator
litigation
Legal dispute process
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- small claimsLow-value legal actions
tort · contract · damages · summons · complaint · negligence · family law · estate · injunction · mediation
docket
Court's case schedule
subpoena · testimony · evidence · cross-examination · discovery · deposition · continuance · ruling · judgment · appeal
arraignment
Charge-reading court session
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
plea · bail · sentencing · verdict · conviction · acquittal · probation · community service · fine · public defender
venue
Place of occurrence
- territorialDefensive about owned space
- judicial districtCourt's geographic boundary
- subject matterContent under discussion
appellate · original jurisdiction · transfer · remand · concurrent · exclusive
bench
Shared seating surface
- chambersEnclosed functional rooms
- gallerySpace for displaying artwork
- witness standPlace for giving testimony
jury box · docket · gavel · robe · oath · bar · clerk's office · waiting area
- courtsmagistrates, tribunals
- legal systemsconstitutional law, judiciary, criminal code, penal code, laws
- court systemsmall claims
- local governancevillage council, mayors, local government, local councils, town meeting
- lower courtssmall claims, justice of the peace, bench trial, bench trials, docket
- English Courtstribunals
county courtssupreme courts
Highest appellate judicial bodies
Supreme Court · appellate courts · courts of appeal · high courts · federal courts
county courtsfederal courts
Judiciary handling nationwide cases
international courts · World Court · state courts · International Criminal Court
county, court, counties, courts, count, countess, counts, courtly, courtier