District Courts

District Courts

District courts exercise territorial jurisdiction within judicial districts established by the General Assembly. This jurisdiction may be city-wide, countywide, or may combine more than one county into a judicial district.

These courts have subject matter jurisdiction over traffic violations, misdemeanors offenses, violations of state law and local ordinances, preliminary felony matters, and civil matters involving contracts, damage to personal property and recovery of personal property where the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000.00. Additionally, Supreme Court Administrative Order 18 provides that a state district court judge may be referred matters pending in circuit court including but not limited to protective orders, forcible entry, and detainer, unlawful detainer, and matters of an emergency or uncontested nature.

The small claims division provides a forum for citizens to represent themselves in matters involving contracts, damage to personal property and recovery of personal property where the amount in controversy does not exceed $5,000.00. These cases are tried informally with relaxed rules of evidence.

As of January 1, 2025, forty one (41) District Court Judicial Districts have been established, which are served by seventy (70) full-time district court judges.