Court Type: Municipal Court

These courts have jurisdiction only over cases arising in a city, and may handle a variety of cases, including possessory writs, peace bonds, bad check charges, some types of misdemeanor criminal cases, preliminary hearings, and money damage civil cases limited to some amount,typically $15,000. Generally a civil damages case that can be filed in a Municipal court can also be filed in a Superior or State Court.

Municipal courts have a separate set of rules called the Uniform Municipal Court Rules that govern how the court is conducted. These rules are less complicated than the Superior or State Court rules.

Municipal Court Judges are elected. They may be appointed to fill an “unexpired term” of a retiring Judge, and then run for election at the end of that term. They must be licensed attorneys, but the few additional qualifications to become a Municipal Court Judge can be read here. There is no legal requirement that a Municipal Court Judge have competency in trials or legal matters handled in the Court.

Municipal Courts can conduct Jury Trials, although the number of jurors is 6, rather than 12 as applies in other Jury Trial Courts. Appeals from a Municipal Court go to different courts depending the type of case.