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The U.S. state of Indiana has three names for its county trial level courts: circuit courts, superior courts, and local city or town courts. [1]
"Trial courts have different names primarily due to accidents of legislative history and local custom, not true differences in the nature or purpose of the courts. The cases these courts hear can vary tremendously from county to county." [2] For example, in Howard County, Indiana, with a population of less than 100,000, [3] the Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases and exclusive jurisdiction over juvenile cases, [4] while the Superior Court 1 primarily hears criminal drug and domestic violence cases. [5] By contrast, in Marion County, Indiana's largest county, [6] the Superior Court "has jurisdiction over all criminal cases, civil issues and family case types filed in the county." [7]
In 2016, the Indiana Supreme Court began a Commercial Court [8] Pilot Project in six county Superior Courts, appointing "Marion Superior Court Judge Heather Welch; [9] Elkhart Superior Court [10] Judge Stephen Bowers; Lake Superior Court [11] Judge John Sedia; Floyd Superior Court Judge Maria Granger; [12] Vanderburgh Superior Court [13] Judge Richard D’Amour; and Allen Superior Court [14] Judge Craig Bobay." [15] In 2020, the Supreme Court expanded the now permanent [16] Commercial Court into four more counties, three with Superior Courts (Hamilton, [17] Vigo, [18] and St. Joseph [19] ) and one with a Circuit Court (Madison [20] ). [21]
Judges are typically elected to the Superior Court, except in limited circumstances. [22]
The Courts of England and Wales, supported administratively by His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, are the civil and criminal courts responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales.
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in the judiciary of New York. It is vested with unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, although in many counties outside New York City it acts primarily as a court of civil jurisdiction, with most criminal matters handled in County Court.
The Indiana Supreme Court, established by Article 7 of the Indiana Constitution, is the highest judicial authority in the state of Indiana. Located in Indianapolis, the Court's chambers are in the north wing of the Indiana Statehouse.
The judiciary of Australia comprises judges who sit in federal courts and courts of the States and Territories of Australia. The High Court of Australia sits at the apex of the Australian court hierarchy as the ultimate court of appeal on matters of both federal and State law.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is a federal district court in Indiana. It was created in 1928 by an act of Congress that split Indiana into two separate districts, northern and southern. The Southern District is divided into four divisions, Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Evansville, and New Albany. Appeals from the Southern District of Indiana are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The court has five judges, four full-time United States magistrate judges and two part-time magistrate judges.
The New Hampshire Superior Court is the statewide court of general jurisdiction which provides jury trials in civil and criminal cases. There are 11 locations of the Superior Court, one for each county and two in Hillsborough County.
The Texas Courts of Appeals are part of the Texas judicial system. In Texas, all cases appealed from district and county courts, criminal and civil, go to one of the fourteen intermediate courts of appeals, with one exception: death penalty cases. The latter are taken directly to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the court of last resort for criminal matters in the State of Texas. The highest court for civil and juvenile matters is the Texas Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court (SCOTX) and the Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) each have nine members per the Texas Constitution, the sizes of the intermediate courts of appeals are set by statute and vary greatly, depending on historical case filings and so that the justices on each court can timely adjudicate the volume of cases regularly before them. The total number of intermediate appellate court seats currently stands at 80, ranging from three, four, six, seven, nine, and thirteen (Dallas) per court.
The Maine Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the Maine state court system.
The Connecticut Superior Court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears all matters other than those of original jurisdiction of the Probate Court, and hears appeals from the Probate Court. The Superior Court has 13 judicial districts which have at least one courthouse and one geographical area court. Civil cases, administrative appeals, family matters, and serious criminal offenses are generally heard in a judicial district courthouse. All criminal arraignments, misdemeanors, felonies, and motor vehicle violations that require a court appearance are heard in one of the 20 geographical area courts.
The Illinois circuit courts are state courts of the judiciary of Illinois. They are trial courts of original and general jurisdiction. As of 2024, outside of Cook County which has its own circuit court, there are 24 circuits, which may include one or more counties of Illinois -- the numbering of the circuits is based on when they were created, generally new higher numbers go to circuits that were later created from out of the lower numbered circuit courts.
The Wisconsin circuit courts are the general trial courts in the state of Wisconsin. There are currently 69 circuits in the state, divided into 9 judicial administrative districts. Circuit court judges hear and decide both civil and criminal cases. Each of the 249 circuit court judges are elected and serve six-year terms.
The South Carolina Circuit Court is the state court of general jurisdiction of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It consists of a civil division and a criminal division.
The Circuit Courts of Maryland are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in Maryland. They are Maryland's highest courts of record exercising original jurisdiction at law and in equity in all civil and criminal matters, and have such additional powers and jurisdiction as conferred by the Maryland Constitution of 1867 as amended, or by law. The Circuit Courts also preside over divorce and most family law matters. Probate and estate matters are handled by a separate Orphans' Court. The Circuit Courts are the only Maryland state courts empowered to conduct jury trials.
The Superior Court is North Carolina's general jurisdiction trial court. It was established in 1777 and is North Carolina's oldest court.
Business courts, sometimes referred to as commercial courts, are specialized courts for legal cases involving commercial law, internal business disputes, and other matters affecting businesses. In the US, they are trial courts that primarily or exclusively adjudicate internal business disputes and/or commercial litigation between businesses, heard before specialist judges assigned to these courts. Commercial courts outside the United States may have broader or narrower jurisdiction than state trial level business and commercial courts within the United States, for example patent or admiralty jurisdiction; and jurisdiction may vary between countries. Business courts may be further specialized, as in those that decide technology disputes and those that weigh appeals. Alternative dispute resolution and arbitration have connections to business courts.
Iowa District Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction in the U.S. state of Iowa.
The Florida State Courts System is the unified state court system of Florida.
Craig J. Bobay is an American judge who has served in Indiana's state courts in Allen County. He has served on the Superior Court since 2013, and held various leadership positions on that court. He also played a key part in establishing and developing Indiana's Commercial Courts, both as a leader in studying and planning for these courts creation and operation in numerous Indiana counties, and in serving as a specialist business court judge himself in Allen's Commercial Court. Before going to law school, he worked for Indiana's Superior Court as an administrator, and was a juvenile probation office. After law school, he served as a federal judicial clerk before entering the practice of law.
