Highest Court
The highest court in Vermont is the Supreme Court of Vermont. The Supreme Court consists of 5 justices. It has jurisdiction over (1) Mandatory jurisdiction in civil, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceeding, and interlocutory decision cases. (2) Discretionary jurisdiction in interlocutory decision cases and small claims.
General Courts
Superior Courts
The Superior Court consist of 15
judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Exclusive tort, contract, real
property rights ($0/no maximum), miscellaneous civil, and civil appeals
jurisdiction. (2) Exclusive small claims jurisdiction ($3,500).
No jury trials are overseen by this
court.
Family Court
The Family Court has judges assigned
from the 15 superior and 18 district judges, and 6 child magistrates. It
has jurisdiction over (1) Paternity, interstate support, marriage dissolution,
support/ custody, domestic violence, miscellaneous domestic relations,
and mental health. (2) Exclusive juvenile.
No jury trials are overseen by this
court.
District Courts
The District Courts consists of
17 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Felony, exclusive misdemeanor,
and DWI/DUI jurisdiction. (2) Moving traffic, miscellaneous traffic, and
ordinance violation jurisdiction.
No jury trials are overseen by this
court.
Limited Courts
Environmental Court
The Environmental Court consists
of 1 judge. It has jurisdiction over (1) Administrative agency appeals.
(2) Municipal zoning and planning. (3) Commission appeals.
No jury trials are overseen by this
court.
Probate Court
The Probate Court consists of 18
judges. It has jurisdiction over (1) Mental health, miscellaneous domestic
relations, miscellaneous civil, exclusive adoption, and estate jurisdiction.
No jury trials are overseen by this
court.
Vermont Judicial Bureau Hearing
Officers
The Vermont Judicial Bureau Hearing
Officers is 4 hearing officers. It has jurisdiction over (1) Moving traffic,
ordinance violation, miscellaneous traffic, and fish and wildlife.
No jury trials are overseen by this
court.
Additional Information
Time limit for hearing on merits
Whenever the presiding judge or
the judges of a superior court have begun the hearing of a cause on its
merits at a stated term or in vacation after a stated term, they may finish
such hearing and render judgment within a time to be set by the supreme
court. ( Vermont Statute § 119)
Venue
The place of trial in the family
court shall be in the county in which one of the parties resides, if one
party resides within the state. If no party resides within the state, the
place of trial may be in any county.
(Vermont Statute Section 458)
Questionnaire
The jury commission shall send a
jury questionnaire prepared by the court administrator to each person selected
to serve as a juror. The return questionnaires shall be retained in the
county clerk's office, except that those questionnaires submitted by prospective
jurors for service in the district court of Vermont shall be deposited
with the clerk of the district court concerned. The questionnaire shall
at all times during business hours be open to inspection by the court and
attorneys of record of the state of Vermont. (Vermont Statute § 955)
Environmental court
The environmental court has state
wide jurisdiction and is a court of record under the authority supreme
court. One environmental judge, shall be appointed within the judicial
branch for a term of six year, shall hear matters arising under chapters
23 and 201 of Title 10 and matters arising under 24 V.S.A. chapter 117
and chapter 61, subchapter 12 in environmental court. The environmental
judge shall sit in environmental court at least two-thirds of his
or her time.(Vermont Statute 1001)
Appointment of hearing officers
The administrative judge shall appoint
members of the Vermont bar to serve as hearing officers to hear cases.
Hearing officers shall be subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct. At least
one hearing officer shall reside in each territorial unit of the district
court. (Vermont Statute § 1104)
Powers of the district
court
The district court is a court of
record and has all the powers regarding civil actions and criminal prosecutions
as a superior court. The district court shall have a seal with the name
of the court and the word "Vermont" thereon. (Vermont Statute § 442)
