statecourt

State courts are the judicial systems of the United States states, separate from the federal court system. Their authority comes from the state constitution and statutes, and they decide cases involving state law, constitutional issues, and, in some instances, federal questions that arise under state jurisdiction. Most states organize their courts into three levels: trial courts, appellate courts, and a court of last resort. Trial courts hear the bulk of civil and criminal cases and may be organized by county or district under designations such as superior, circuit, district, or county courts, with some specializing in particular matters.

Intermediate appellate courts review trial-court decisions, and a state's court of last resort, often called the supreme court or court of appeals, provides the final interpretation of state law within the state. In certain circumstances, state court decisions can be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court if federal constitutional questions or federal statutes are involved.

State courts handle criminal prosecutions under state law, civil disputes, family law, probate, juvenile matters, and various regulatory or administrative issues. Some states maintain specialized courts for topics such as family matters, probate, tax, or drug offenses. Judges may be elected or appointed and may serve fixed terms; court administration and budgeting are managed within the state’s judiciary, sometimes through a centralized system and an administrative office.