A municipal court is a local court that has jurisdiction over cases involving violations of city ordinances, traffic offences, and other minor criminal offences that occur within its municipal jurisdiction. These courts handle a wide range of cases, including traffic violations, misdemeanor crimes, code enforcement violations, and small claims disputes. Municipal courts typically operate at the city or county level and are presided over by judges who are either elected or appointed. They provide a forum for individuals to resolve legal matters within their local community and play a crucial role in administering justice and upholding local laws and regulations.
n. a lower court which usually tries criminal misdemeanors and civil lawsuits involving lesser amounts of money than superior, district or county courts. The authority, importance and geographical area covered differ from state to state. In California, municipal courts have county-wide jurisdiction, try misdemeanor criminal cases, conduct preliminary hearings of felonies and try cases up to $25,000, while in many states they only handle cases arising out of violations of city ordinances, traffic and/or small claims.
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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.
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