law courts

Law courts on Fleet Street in London, England.

Bodies that adjudicate (make judgement) in legal disputes. Civil cases (generally non-criminal disputes that affect the interests of an individual) and criminal cases are usually dealt with by separate courts. In many countries there is a hierarchy of courts that provide an appeal system.

Many counties and municipalities also have courts, usually limited to minor offences. There are also a number of federal and state specialized judicial and quasi-judicial bodies dealing with administrative law. In the US, the head of the federal judiciary is the Supreme Court, which also hears appeals from the inferior federal courts and from the decisions of the highest state courts. The US Courts of Appeal – organized in circuits – deal with appeals from the US district courts in which civil and criminal cases are heard.

State courts deal with civil and criminal cases involving state laws and usually consist of a Supreme Court or appeals court and courts in judicial districts.