Circuit Court Directory and Information

Although each state’s court system differs greatly from the next, many states employ one or several circuit courts to hear specific types of civil and criminal cases, as well as appeals from lower courts. Generally, if a court is called a “circuit court,” it is a trial court of general and original jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction

General jurisdiction is that in which a court may hear any type of case—civil, criminal, probate, family and so on. Original jurisdiction means that this court hears the original case, and not an appeal from a lower court. However, again depending upon the state’s court structure, these circuit courts may hear appeals from lower trial courts which are considered to be limited jurisdiction—these courts may be city or town courts, county courts or even small claims courts. Many times, a circuit court may have appellate jurisdiction over cases from lower trial courts as well as original jurisdiction over specific types of cases.

Many state judicial circuits may include one or more counties, and can be divided into several divisions. These divisions may have a variety of names, including family court, small claims court, probate court, juvenile court or drug court.

Circuit Court Cases

Circuit courts in the states may allow cases to be decided by either a judge or jury, and may even place limits on damages claimed in certain civil cases. For example, Indiana’s Circuit Court only presides over small claims cases involving up to $6,000 in damages. Higher dollar amounts require filing with a higher appellate or federal court, depending upon whether the issue crosses state lines.

Appeals Process

Should a party to a case presented in the circuit court ever want to appeal the decision, they may file an appeal with an intermediate or higher appellate court within the state. Often, this is the court of appeals for the state, or even the state’s supreme court. Some cases eventually go on to the federal appeals or Supreme Court, especially when Constitutional law or due process is called into question.

Often, records from these courts are easily found when visiting the court in person or requesting them online. Some circuits may even provide records through their website for public review. If you are party to a case which falls under the circuit court’s jurisdiction, you may even be able to access electronic dockets online.

A state’s circuit court should never be confused with the former existence of federal circuit courts from 1789 to 1912. The power granted to these courts has since been transferred to the U.S. district courts. However, the U.S. courts of appeals are at times referred to as the “U.S. circuit courts of appeals” because they exercise jurisdiction over an assigned circuit.

Following is a list of several state circuit courts within the U.S.:

Florida Circuit Court

Illinois Circuit Court

Maryland Circuit Court

Michigan Circuit Court

Missouri Circuit Court

Oregon Circuit Court

Virginia Circuit Court

Wisconsin Circuit Court