Courts and cases

This Virginia Court has a judge and jury, and original jurisdiction of felony criminal cases and higher dollar civil cases.

• VA Supreme Court

• Juvenile and Domestic Court

• Virginia Circuit Court

This US Court has 9 justices and no jury; is the court of final appeal in the justice system; has power of judicial review of laws and government actions

• VA General District Court

• US Supreme Court

• US Court of Appeals

This Virginia Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving those under age 18, and cases involving families, such as divorce cases. It is a closed court with no jury.

• VA Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court

• VA General District Court

• VA Circuit Court

This US Court has appellate jurisdiction of cases from the US District Court. It has justices and no jury.

• US Court of Appeals

• US Bankruptcy Court

• US Supreme Court

What is appellate jurisdiction?

• the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time and come to a decision.

• the authority of a court to hear appeals from lower courts and determine if due process was followed

• Determine guilt in a criminal case and liability in a civil case

What decision can an appeals court reach?

• Grant a re-trial of the case

• Uphold the conviction of the lower court

• Overturn the conviction of the lower court

• All of the above

This Virginia court is the highest court in the VA justice system. It hears appeals from the VA Court of appeals, and has power of judicial review over Virginia state laws.

• VA General District Court

• US Supreme Court

• VA Supreme Court

This Virginia court has original jurisdiction over misdemeanors and lower dollar civil cases. It is an open court, but has no jury, only a judge.

• VA General District Court

• VA Circuit Court

• VA Court of Appeals

This Virginia court hears appeals from the Virginia Circuit Courts. It has justices and no jury.

• US Supreme Court

• Virginia Court of Appeals

• Virginia General District Court

What are the 2 types of cases heard in the judicial system?

• felony and misdemeanor

• criminal and civil

• civil and felony