Highest Court
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court consists of 7 judges. It has jurisdiction over (1)
Review of final judgments of the Circuit Court of Appeals: by appeal (as
of right) in civil cases when there is a declaration of unconstitutionality
of any law, rule or municipal ordinance or when there is a conflict between
decisions of different C.C.A. panel; by certiorari in all other cases.
(2) Review of rulings of the Registar of property. Certification from C.C.A.
when the constitutionality of a law, rule or municipal ordinace is at stake.
Original jurisdiction; Mandamus, Habeas Corpus, Quo Warranto and writs
determined by law.
Intermediate Courts
Circuit Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals consists of 33 judges. It has jurisdiction over
(1) Appeals (as of right) from final judgment of the Court of First Instance.
(2) Discretionary review of administrative agency rulings. (3) Certiorari
regarding special proceedings determined by law and interlocutory resolutions
and orders from the Court of First Instance.
Original jurisdition: Habeas Corpus, Mandamus.
General Courts
Court of First Instance
The Court of First Instance consists of 368 judges. It has jurisdiction
over (1) General jurisdiction over all civil, criminal, and juvenile cases.
(2) Concurrent jurisdiction over subject matters entertained by District
Subsection during its process of abolition by law.
Superior Section
The Superior Section consists of 218 judges. It has jurisdiction over
(1) General jurisdiction over all civil, criminal, and juvenile cases.
(2) Concurrent jurisdiction over subject matters entertained by District
Subsection.
District Section
The District Section consists of 5 judges. It has jurisdiction over
(1) Torts, contracts, real property and domestic relations where the amount
in question does not exceed $50,000, detainers where the amount does not
exceed a total of $12,000 annually, holgraphic and oral wills, petitions
related to the Mental Health Code, misdemeanors, and municipal ordinances.
Municipal Division
The Municipal Division consists of 105 judges. It has jurisdiction
over (1) Interlocutory proceedings, provisional orders, petitions related
to the Mental Health Code, protection orders under Minors Protection and
Domestic Violence Law, review of administrative decisions on traffic violations,
repossessions, torts, contracts, real property rights and small claims
where the amount does not exceed $3,000 and collections up to $5,000. (2)
Determination of non-dispositive pretrial matters, issuance of search and
arrest warrants, arrangements, preliminary hearings, waiver of jury trials,
bails and other matters.
