Superior court
In
common law systems, a
superior court is a
court of general
competence which typically has unlimited
jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal
legal cases. A superior court is "superior" relative to a court with limited jurisdiction (see
lower court), which is restricted to civil cases involving monetary amounts with a specific limit, or criminal cases involving offenses of a less serious nature. A superior court may hear
appeals from lower courts (see
court of appeal).
Superior Courts in
Canada exist at the provincial and territorial levels. The superior courts are the courts of first instance for divorce petitions, civil lawsuits involving claims greater than small claims, and criminal prosecutions for "indictable offences" (i.e. "felonies" in U.S. legal terminology). They also perform a reviewing function for judgements from the local "inferior" courts and administrative decisions by provincial or territorial government entities such as labour boards, human rights tribunals and licensing authorities.
The court in
Ontario is called the
Superior Court of Justice.
In a number of jurisdictions in the United States, the Superior Court is a
state trial court of general jurisdiction with power to hear and decide any civil or criminal action which is not specially designated to be heard in some other court.
California and
Georgia are examples of such jurisdictions. Likewise, the Superior Court of the
District of Columbia is a trial court of general jurisdiction.
In
Pennsylvania, the Superior Court is an
appellate court. In
New Jersey, the Superior Court comprises trial courts of general jurisdiction, courts of
equity, and an
appellate division.
*
Judiciary*
California Courts-the Judicial Branch of California
*
Los Angeles Superior Court
