Superior Courts

Superior Court is a general-jurisdiction court between subordinate courts like justice of the peace courts and higher appellate courts.

It is a single entity with branches in each county. At least one superior court judge resides in each county. When there is more than one court judge in a county, the judges work in numbered divisions.

Note that the types of cases vary from state and state. But generally, the Superior Court has jurisdiction over juvenile, family, civil, and criminal cases.

Juvenile Division

Juvenile Division is a subsection of the Superior Court that protects the rights of minors, family relationships, and confidentiality.

All juvenile cases include either the minor child's care or the youngster's behavior.

Typically, juvenile cases include:

• The termination of parental rights
• The adulthood of a minor
• Delinquency
• Abused or mistreated children and adolescents
• Families with service needs (FWSN)

Family Division

The Family Division hears cases about juveniles and their relationships with their families. Typical cases include:

• Divorce
• Child custody
• Child support
• Relief from abuse (temporary restraining orders)
• Juvenile delinquency
• Child maltreatment and neglect
• The termination of parental rights
• Courthouses within a judicial district hear the majority of family cases

Civil Division

The Civil Division considers cases where civil, personal, or property rights are at stake. Typical examples of typical situations are:

• Automobile or personal accidents
• Landlord-tenant conflicts
• Product or professional liability challenges
• Contested contracts

In most civil lawsuits, the plaintiff seeks monetary damages (judgment or award) from the defendant (the defendant). Depending on the claim and the parties' preferences, a judge, jury, or non-judicial body can decide a case.

Criminal Division

The Criminal Division considers cases where the state prosecutes an alleged lawbreaker (the defendant). An attorney for the state speaks for the state.

Depending on the gravity of the crime, three types of criminal cases exist:

• Both crimes and misdemeanors, with one year or fewer jail terms
• Violations include motor vehicle offenses punished only by a fine
• Infractions where a fine is payable by mail without a necessary court appearance (for example, traffic tickets)

Except for the most severe crimes, all criminal cases in the state occur in local courts.

How does a case progress through the Superior Court system?

Criminal and civil cases dominate the superior court. Most of the time, criminal and civil trials go the same way. After the judge has explained the relevant legislation to the jury, the jurors consider the case's facts and decide. If without a jury, the judge decides.

Criminal Cases

Criminal cases include conduct banned by law and penalized by probation, fines, jail, or death. The prosecutor charges a person with committing a crime on behalf of the state, county, or city. Accused criminals are defendants. The judge safeguards the defendant's rights and the Constitutional and statutory rights of crime victims.

Arrest

A law enforcement officer arrests a person when they observe a crime or have a reasonable suspicion they committed a crime. An arrested person must appear in court within 24 hours or be released.

First Appearance

The court establishes the defendant's identity and residence, charges, and right to stay quiet and counsel at the first appearance. The judge assigns counsel to the defendant who cannot afford one and determines the terms of his release.

Preliminary Hearing

The judge hears evidence and testimony from prosecution and defense witnesses during a preliminary hearing. If the judge believes there is enough evidence to suspect that the defendant committed the offense, the defendant proceeds for trial in superior court with a regular arraignment date.

Arraignment

In court, the defendant pleads guilty, not guilty, or no contest (nolo contendere). Upon a not guilty plea, the court sets a trial date. The court will establish a sentencing date upon a guilty plea or no contest.

Trial

The defendant is subject to a trial where a jury or judge decides guilt. Each party makes an opening statement as the trial begins. A criminal case's prosecutor speaks first.

The prosecutor presents the outlines of the facts. The defense counsel can make the same opening statement or wait until later in the trial to begin. Either lawyer can forgo an opening remark.

Prosecutor calls witnesses and interviews them to begin a case.

In all trials, witnesses swear or affirm. All trial evidence, including testimony and tangible evidence like papers, firearms, or clothes, must be admissible under the state rules of evidence before being given to the jury. A judge determines what evidence and testimony are admissible.

The prosecutor in a criminal trial offers evidence and witness testimony to establish the defendant committed the crime. The defendant's counsel may introduce evidence and witnesses to indicate the defendant did not conduct the crime or establish reasonable doubt about guilt. Unless proven guilty, the defendant is presumed innocent.

After the defendant's case, the prosecution may introduce rebuttal evidence. After that, the defense presents further evidence for the defendant.

Closing Arguments

Each party can make closing arguments after presenting all evidence. Closing arguments, like opening statements, provide lawyers one last chance to speak to the judge or jury.

Instructing the Jury

After closing arguments, the judge provides jury instructions outlining the law. Jurors must follow these verdict directions.

Jury Deliberations

The jury chooses a foreperson in a designated jury chamber.

Jurors must analyze all the evidence and facts and make a judgment. The court reconvenes after the jury delivers its verdict.

Verdict

The foreman gives the judge a written verdict, and the judge or court clerk reads it to the court. The court enters a verdict-based decision and releases the jury. For unconvicted defendants, they will get a prompt release. If convicted, a sentence is pending.

Sentencing

A sentencing hearing will decide a defendant's sentence. The court hears from the prosecution and defense on the defendant's sentence.

Most states have set a range of punishments for certain offenses, and the court must impose one within that range.

The possibilities include probation, penalties, prison, or a combination. In some circumstances, the death sentence is conceivable. A jury, not a judge, must determine whether the offender gets the death sentence.

Appeals

A convict may file an appeal. The Supreme Court gets an automatic request when a convict receives a death sentence. All criminal appeals go to the Court of Appeals.

Civil Cases

Civil cases include individual, business, corporation, or partnership disputes. Individuals may also sue a government entity such as a state, county, or city in civil court.

Most civil cases concern breach of contract, debt collection, bodily injury, property damage, or family law matters such as divorce.

In a civil action, the plaintiff sues the defendant.

A civil case follows these steps:

• The plaintiff files a complaint or petition with the court clerk describing why he sues the defendant and what he wants the court to do.
• The plaintiff must specify whether the dispute is amenable to arbitration.
• The defendant receives the complaint and summons.
• The defendant has 20 days to produce a written response admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint.
• The plaintiff and defendant share case facts.
• The case trial happens in front of a judge or a jury. Each party can make opening and closing speeches, question and cross-examine witnesses, and introduce additional evidence.
• The judge or jury delivers a verdict based on the testimony and other evidence provided during the trial.
• The losing side can appeal the judgment to a higher court.

The district court (trial courts) are also called "superior courts in California". But in most states, these are different.

The District Court handles offenses with a maximum of 2.5  years in prison.

The Superior Court handles all offenses and significant criminal cases. Superior Court judges can sentence defendants to life in a house of corrections or state prison.

Courts and court websites provide access to ongoing and concluded cases.

The availability of court documents varies significantly across jurisdictions. Some courts release recent court records for free online. Other courts give no internet access to dockets or court papers.

However, most of the time:

• You can find dockets online for free or at a modest cost.
• If the parties submitted papers electronically, you could acquire them via the court's website for a higher charge.
• If the parties submitted paper records at the courthouse, you must attend to examine, copy, or scan them. Some courts can give you paper records if you email or contact them. You can also employ a document delivery service.

The court's website will enable you to purchase online papers and inform you how to buy printed ones in the courtroom.

For most states, the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system of the federal courts makes accessible for a charge the latest federal dockets and court records, including the superior court. But Bloomberg will obtain PACER papers at no cost for law students and academic members.

Note that California state courts don't use PACER. Instead, check individual court websites for dockets and court records. You can view dockets for Los Angeles (LA) Superior Court cases for free if you know the docket number.

Also, using the docket number, you can get free copies of LA Superior Court dockets from the court's website. There are cases about civil law, small claims, family law, and probate.