State Courts and Judicial Selection
State courts are the courts that handle a wide range of everyday legal disputes, from traffic tickets and contracts to criminal cases and family matters, under state law. Each state organizes its own trial and appeals courts, with a supreme court at the top. States also choose judges in different ways, including election, appointment by the governor, and merit selection.
People usually bring questions about how state courts differ from federal courts, how a case gets to the right court, and how judges gain their seats. Others ask about jurisdiction and venue, and about alternatives such as private judges and arbitration.
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All Articles on State Courts and Judicial Selection
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