US Court System

The authority of a court to decide matters based of geographic area, the nature of a complaint or offense, or the citizenship of the principals involved in the dispute or infraction.

• range

• jurisdiction

• radius

• jurisprudence

A state circuit court that hears civil trials.

• Court of General Sessions

• Court of Common Please

• Court of General Pleas

• Court of Common Sessions

The highest court in the state of South Carolina that consists of five justices and hears seven types of cases including elections, death penalty cases, and public utility rates.

• Magistrate Court

• Circuit Court

• SC Court of Appeals

• SC Supreme Court

A state circuit court that hears criminal trials.

• Court of General Sessions

• Court of Common Pleas

• Court of General Pleas

• Court of Common Sessions

These courts have original jurisdiction when the US is listed as a plaintiff or defendant.

• Federal Circuit Courts

• Magistrates Court

• Court of General Sessions

• Federal District Courts

These state courts have jurisdiction over civil cases over $7500 and "more serious" criminal cases (usually felonies with punishments of 1 year or more but some misdemeanors).

• Municipal Court

• Magistrates Court

• Circuit Courts

• Federal District Courts

This court (typically a county court) has jurisdiction over civil suits up to $7500, misdemeanors (crimes involving a maximum punishment of less than a year, mostly fines), preliminary criminal hearings, and traffic/other violations

• Municipal Court

• Magistrates Court

• Probate Court

• Administrative Law Judge DIvision

This court has jurisdiction over divorce, custody battles and visitation rights, termination of parental rights, adoption, child support and alimony, division of property, and criminal trials of minors (under 17)

• Family Court

• Circuit Court

• Federal District Court

• Probate Court

This court consists of 9 justices sitting in panels of 3. There is no jury. This court was created to hear most types of appeals from the circuit court and the family court.

• SC Court of Original Jurisdiction

• SC Supreme Court

• SC Court of Appeals

• SC Magistrates Court

This U.S. Supreme Court case made segregation of public schools (and other public areas) illegal.

• Marbury v Madison

• Plessy v Ferguson

• Gideon v Wainwright

• Brown v Board of Education