Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 6 P10 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 78 JUDICIARY The structure of state court systems varies by state but four levels generally can be identified minor courts major trial courts intermediate appellate courts and state supreme courts. Minor courts handle the least serious cases. For example municipal courts handle city ordinance violations such as speeding tickets and parking violations. Cases that involve state constitutional issues state statutes and common law are dealt with by major trial courts. For example felony cases such as murder or rape would be handled in a major trial court. Trial courts are called by different names in different states. For example in pennsylvania they are called courts of common pleas. Intermediate appellate courts called courts of appeals review cases that have been decided by trial courts. They do not hear new evidence they decide whether the lower court the trial court correctly applied the law in the case. State supreme courts review cases that deal with state law. The decision of the court is final since the state supreme court is the ultimate arbiter of state laws and the state constitution. Supreme courts are called by various names depending on the state. For example West Virginia calls its highest court the Supreme Court of Appeals. Federal cases including civil and criminal are handled by federal district courts. There are 94 district courts with at least one in each state as well as a district court for the District of Columbia Guam the Northern Mariana Islands puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The number of judgeships appointed to each district is laid out in Title 28 Section 133 of the . code which is a compilation of the permanent laws of the United States. The 94 districts are divided into 12 regional circuits. Each of these circuits has a . court of appeals also called a circuit court. . courts of appeals were created by the Evarts Act of 1891 28 . 43 the central location of each court is determined by statute 28 . 41 . Each .
