{"id":369041,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:07","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/legal-system\/state-courts-in-depth.html"},"modified":"2024-05-23T10:47:40","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T15:47:40","slug":"state-courts-in-depth","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/state-courts-in-depth.html","title":{"rendered":"State Courts In-Depth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

How Do State Courts Work?<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

If you ever go to court, you probably go to a state court. The majority of civil and criminal cases involve state laws. State judges handle these cases. Everything from routine traffic tickets and civil cases to major felonies and class action lawsuits is the responsibility of the states.<\/p>\r\n

The U.S. Constitution established the Supreme Court and granted it the ability to designate lower courts. Each state’s constitution creates a judicial system that mirrors the federal courts. Under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court has authority over all lower courts.<\/p>\r\n

Most people have little to do with the Supreme Court. State law and state courts affect the average person’s life more.<\/p>\r\n

Powers of the State Courts<\/h2>\r\n

Laws differ in different states, but in general, state courts have authority or jurisdiction<\/a> over all citizens and residents of the state. A state’s constitution establishes this personal jurisdiction by extending the laws of the state over everyone who lives or does business there.<\/p>\r\n

In other words, if you live or work in New York, you can sue or be sued in New York. The laws of New York protect your civil rights if you get arrested. If you move to another state, that state’s laws apply to you. You don’t have to go back to New York to file a lawsuit against a resident of that state. States have personal jurisdiction over everyone in their borders.<\/p>\r\n

Powers of Individual Courts<\/h3>\r\n

Not all courts hear all cases. To streamline the court process and separate different types of cases, most courts have limited jurisdiction, meaning they only hear certain cases. If the limit involves the nature of the case, it is subject matter jurisdiction.<\/p>\r\n

Subject matter court jurisdiction often includes:<\/p>\r\n