nc court structure_youth civics
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Presentation about NC courts from Mecklenburg County Courthouse Trial Courts Administrator's OfficeTRANSCRIPT
North Carolina North Carolina Court StructureCourt Structure
42 Districts
46 Districts & 8 Divisions
North Carolina Court StructureNorth Carolina Court StructureSupreme Court
7 Justices
Administrative Office of Courts395
Trial Court Administrator
Court of Appeals15 Judges
Superior Court109 Judges
District Court256 Judges
Magistrates724
Clerks of Superior Court100 Clerks & 2,390 Clerk Personnel
District 26 Mecklenburg CountyDistrict 26 Mecklenburg County
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Senior Resident Superior Court Judge (elected)(elected)
Chief District Court Judge (elected)Chief District Court Judge (elected)
Trial Court AdministratorTrial Court Administrator
Clerk of Superior Court (elected)Clerk of Superior Court (elected)
District Attorney (elected)District Attorney (elected)
Public DefenderPublic Defender
Chief District Court JudgeChief District Court Judge
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina designates one of the North Carolina designates one of the judges as Chief District Court Judge, and judges as Chief District Court Judge, and this judge has administrative duties, this judge has administrative duties, including assigning the judges to sessions including assigning the judges to sessions of court. of court.
District Court JudgesDistrict Court JudgesHon. Lisa C. Bell, ChiefHon. Lisa C. Bell, Chief
Hon. Rickye Hon. Rickye McKoyMcKoy--MitchellMitchell Hon. Louis A. Trosch, Jr.Hon. Louis A. Trosch, Jr.
Hon. Regan A. MillerHon. Regan A. Miller Hon. Rebecca Thorne TinHon. Rebecca Thorne Tin Hon. Thomas F. Moore, Jr.Hon. Thomas F. Moore, Jr.
Hon. Christy MannHon. Christy Mann Hon. Ronald L. ChapmanHon. Ronald L. Chapman
Hon. Donnie HooverHon. Donnie Hoover Hon. Theo X. NixonHon. Theo X. Nixon
Hon. Paige B. McTheniaHon. Paige B. McThenia
Hon. Kimberly Y. BestHon. Kimberly Y. Best Hon. Charlotte BrownHon. Charlotte Brown
Hon. John W. Hon. John W. TottenTotten, III, III Hon. Elizabeth T. TroschHon. Elizabeth T. Trosch
Hon. Karen EadyHon. Karen Eady--WilliamsWilliamsHon. Donald CuretonHon. Donald Cureton
Hon. Sean SmithHon. Sean SmithHon. Matt OsmanHon. Matt Osman
Hon. Ty HandsHon. Ty HandsHon. Jena P. CullerHon. Jena P. Culler
District CourtDistrict Court
Criminal Criminal
CivilCivil
DomesticDomestic
JuvenileJuvenile
MagisterialMagisterial
District CourtDistrict Court--ContinuedContinued
CriminalCriminal
Preliminary "probable cause" hearings in felony casesPreliminary "probable cause" hearings in felony cases
Misdemeanor and infraction casesMisdemeanor and infraction cases
Has jurisdiction to accept guilty pleas in certain felony cases Has jurisdiction to accept guilty pleas in certain felony cases
Trial by district court judges; no trial by jury Trial by district court judges; no trial by jury
Appeals are to the superior court for trial de novo before a jurAppeals are to the superior court for trial de novo before a jury y
CivilCivil
General civil cases $10,000 or lessGeneral civil cases $10,000 or less
Civil cases in District Court may be tried before a juryCivil cases in District Court may be tried before a jury
Appeals are to the Court of Appeals Appeals are to the Court of Appeals
District CourtDistrict Court--ContinuedContinued
DomesticDomestic
DivorceDivorce
CustodyCustody
Child SupportChild Support
Spousal SupportSpousal Support
Equitable DistributionEquitable Distribution
District CourtDistrict Court--ContinuedContinued
JuvenileJuvenile
All juvenile proceedingsAll juvenile proceedings
Juvenile proceedings concern children who are Juvenile proceedings concern children who are delinquent, undisciplined, abused, neglected, or delinquent, undisciplined, abused, neglected, or dependent; proceedings are initiated by petition, and dependent; proceedings are initiated by petition, and the hearing conducted by the judge may be less the hearing conducted by the judge may be less formal than in adult casesformal than in adult cases
Juveniles alleged to be delinquent are entitled to have Juveniles alleged to be delinquent are entitled to have the court appoint counselthe court appoint counsel
District Court District Court -- ContinuedContinued
MagisterialMagisterial
magistrates issue arrest and search warrants, magistrates issue arrest and search warrants, conduct initial appearances, and determine conduct initial appearances, and determine conditions of pretrial releaseconditions of pretrial release
Accept guilty pleas for minor offenses, impose Accept guilty pleas for minor offenses, impose punishment and conduct trialspunishment and conduct trials
In civil cases, they preside over the trial of In civil cases, they preside over the trial of small claims ($5,000 or less)small claims ($5,000 or less)
Senior Resident Senior Resident Superior Court JudgeSuperior Court Judge
The Senior Resident Superior Court Judge The Senior Resident Superior Court Judge has the most seniority of the superior has the most seniority of the superior court judges in the district and is court judges in the district and is responsible for carrying out various responsible for carrying out various administrative duties. administrative duties.
Superior Court JudgesSuperior Court JudgesRESIDENT SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES
Hon. Richard D. Boner, Senior ResidentHon. W. Robert Bell
Hon. Yvonne Mims EvansHon. Linwood O. Foust
Hon. Eric LevinsonHon. Hugh B. Lewis
Hon. William H. Constangy
SPECIAL SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE FOR COMPLEX BUSINESS CASES
Hon. Calvin Murphy
SPECIAL SUPERIOR COURT JUDGEHon. F. Lane Williamson
Superior CourtSuperior Court
CriminalCriminal
FeloniesFelonies
Misdemeanor AppealsMisdemeanor Appeals
Trial by juryTrial by jury
Superior Court Superior Court -- ContinuedContinued
CivilCivil
Lawsuits $10,000 +Lawsuits $10,000 +
Certain special proceedings Certain special proceedings
Condemnation actions and proceedingsCondemnation actions and proceedings
Corporate receiverships Corporate receiverships
Review of decisions of administrative agencies where the Review of decisions of administrative agencies where the principal relief sought is injunctive or declaratory to establisprincipal relief sought is injunctive or declaratory to establish the h the validity of a statute, ordinance or regulation, or enforcement ovalidity of a statute, ordinance or regulation, or enforcement or r declaration of any claim of constitutional right. declaration of any claim of constitutional right.
Exclusive original jurisdiction for probate of wills and for Exclusive original jurisdiction for probate of wills and for administration of decedent's estatesadministration of decedent's estates
Trial by juryTrial by jury
Trial Court Trial Court AdministratorAdministrator
Trial Court AdministratorTrial Court Administrator’’s Office s Office Organizational ChartOrganizational Chart
The Role of the TCAThe Role of the TCA
Facilitator for changeFacilitator for change
Provide professional management Provide professional management
Plan, organize, & direct nonPlan, organize, & direct non--judicial activities judicial activities
Development of local rules & administrative Development of local rules & administrative policiespolicies
Budgeting, personnel oversight, facilities Budgeting, personnel oversight, facilities managementmanagement
Research & strategic planning, grant Research & strategic planning, grant procurementprocurement
Program development & project managementProgram development & project management
Clerk of Superior Clerk of Superior CourtCourt
Clerk of Superior CourtClerk of Superior Court
Elected every 4 yearsElected every 4 years
Judge of probateJudge of probate
Record keeperRecord keeper
ComptrollerComptroller
Administrator/ManagerAdministrator/Manager
Administrator/ManagerAdministrator/Manager
200 full time Assistant & Deputy Clerk 200 full time Assistant & Deputy Clerk positionspositions
Answer phones, assist the public, files all Answer phones, assist the public, files all papers, issue civil summons, subpoenas, papers, issue civil summons, subpoenas, orders for arrest, executions, writs, show orders for arrest, executions, writs, show cause orderscause orders
Courtroom clerks in criminal, civil, juvenileCourtroom clerks in criminal, civil, juvenile
Seven departmentsSeven departments
Clerk of Court DepartmentsClerk of Court Departments
BookkeepingBookkeeping
CashiersCashiers
CivilCivil
Criminal Criminal
Estates Estates
Special ProceedingsSpecial Proceedings
JuvenileJuvenile
District AttorneyDistrict Attorney
District AttorneyDistrict Attorney
Attorney who is elected for a fourAttorney who is elected for a four--year term by year term by the voters within the district he or she serves.the voters within the district he or she serves.
Primary duty is to represent the state in all Primary duty is to represent the state in all criminal and some juvenile matterscriminal and some juvenile matters
Responsible for preparing the criminal trial Responsible for preparing the criminal trial docket and advising law enforcement officers in docket and advising law enforcement officers in the district the district
Public DefenderPublic Defender
Public DefenderPublic Defender
Represents persons charged with criminal Represents persons charged with criminal offenses who cannot afford to hire a private offenses who cannot afford to hire a private attorneyattorney
Appointed by Senior Resident Superior Court Appointed by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for 4 year termJudge for 4 year term
Defendants assigned by the court are Defendants assigned by the court are represented at the State's expenserepresented at the State's expense
Handle misdemeanor & felony trials, represent Handle misdemeanor & felony trials, represent defendants on motions for appropriate relief, defendants on motions for appropriate relief, represents persons who are facing involuntary represents persons who are facing involuntary commitment for mental illness, alcohol problems commitment for mental illness, alcohol problems or drug abuse, as well as juveniles who are or drug abuse, as well as juveniles who are charged as delinquentscharged as delinquents
MagistratesMagistrates
MagistratesMagistrates
Appointed for twoAppointed for two--year terms by the Senior year terms by the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge upon Resident Superior Court Judge upon nomination of the Clerk of Superior Courtnomination of the Clerk of Superior Court
Officers of the district court subject to Officers of the district court subject to supervision of Chief District Court Judge in supervision of Chief District Court Judge in judicial mattersjudicial matters
MagistratesMagistrates
In criminal matters, magistrates issue arrest and In criminal matters, magistrates issue arrest and search warrants and set bail. They have search warrants and set bail. They have authority to: authority to:
accept guilty pleas to minor misdemeanors and pleas accept guilty pleas to minor misdemeanors and pleas of responsibility to infractions; of responsibility to infractions;
accept waivers of trial and guilty pleas to certain accept waivers of trial and guilty pleas to certain traffic littering, wildlife, boating, marine fisheries, traffic littering, wildlife, boating, marine fisheries, state park recreation and alcoholic beverage state park recreation and alcoholic beverage violations; and violations; and
accept waivers of trial and guilty pleas in worthless accept waivers of trial and guilty pleas in worthless check cases in which the check is for $2000 or lesscheck cases in which the check is for $2000 or less
MagistratesMagistrates
In civil matters, hear small claims cases, In civil matters, hear small claims cases, including summary including summary ejectmentejectment (landlord's action (landlord's action to evict a tenant) cases. to evict a tenant) cases.
Authorized to perform marriage ceremonies, Authorized to perform marriage ceremonies, assign a year's allowance to a surviving spouse, assign a year's allowance to a surviving spouse, administer oaths, verify pleadings and take administer oaths, verify pleadings and take acknowledgments (notarization) of instruments. acknowledgments (notarization) of instruments.
Questions?Questions?