What Do Circuit Court Records Cover?
Circuit court records are maintained by circuit courts - the court systems covering several common law jurisdictional areas. Circuit courts have the reputation of being called 'general jurisdiction' courts as they cover many aspects of everyday social events.
A circuit court was originally meant to be a place that held sessions in different locales within a particular judicial district. Judges traveled in circuits to decide cases across a broad area. In majority of the counties, a circuit court has offices in the courthouse of the county. But in some counties, the circuit court maintains offices and courtrooms in two or more locations.
Circuit Court Records - A Better Look
The circuit court documents available usually include those concerning juvenile, criminal and civil cases. A circuit court exercises full equity and common law jurisdiction on all these cases. The circuit court also can on occasion, decide appeals passed on from district courts as well as specific administrative agencies.All major felony cases are heard at a circuit court. This includes capital punishment cases. Criminal misdemeanor court cases where there's a request for jury trials also fall under the authority of a circuit court. The court also hears and maintains circuit court documents for civil claims that involve disputes amounting to upwards of $20,000. These are all on top of matters relating to divorce, child support, custody and/or visitation rights.
States often view the circuit court as the general jurisdiction court. Basically, what this means is that the circuit court sits in judgment over cases regardless of the monetary amount involved, the subject matter or the gravity of the crime charged. Circuit courts are courts of record - meaning, official court reporters or special video or audio systems document and record every single word of most court cases. However, non-criminal offenses and small claims are rarely included here.
People can use a circuit court record for pursuing any appeal. Nearly all appeals are placed on record. This means that appellate courts don't hold new trials but instead rely on the circuit court record along with prior written and oral arguments to decide if indeed the trial court's ruling was appropriate.
Circuit Courts and Their 'Powers'
The circuit court has authority to decide civil cases. Specifically, it has the power to:- Change or award kids' legal custody
- Administer and distribute the possessions and property of a decedent
- Commit teens or juveniles to a state institution and put dependent kids in substitute care facilities
- Commit people who are mentally ill to state hospitals
- Dissolve or undo marriages and deal out both parties' assets
- Determine the person who has legal title to lands
- Issue or hand out injunctions
- Preside over and run trials
- Approve and grant adoptions
Decisions regarding appealed circuit court cases usually go directly to the Appeals Court. The only exceptions here are cases where a circuit court has condemned defendants to death. Such cases as well as their circuit court records proceed directly to the Supreme Court.
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