What are the courts and court jurisdictions in Alabama?

In Alabama, the court system consists of several levels and types of courts with different jurisdictions. Here are the main types of courts and their jurisdictions in Alabama:

Alabama Supreme Court: The Alabama Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state and has both original and appellate jurisdiction. It has the authority to hear appeals from the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, and certain other cases, as well as original jurisdiction in cases involving matters such as petitions for writs of mandamus, prohibition, and habeas corpus.

Alabama Court of Civil Appeals: The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals is an intermediate appellate court that hears appeals in civil cases, including family law, probate, and other civil matters, from trial courts in Alabama, except for those cases that are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Alabama Supreme Court.

Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals: The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals is an intermediate appellate court that hears appeals in criminal cases, including appeals from felony convictions, from trial courts in Alabama, except for those cases that are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Alabama Supreme Court.

Alabama Circuit Courts: Alabama Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction that hear a wide range of civil and criminal cases, including civil lawsuits involving amounts over a certain threshold, serious criminal cases, domestic relations matters, and other cases. Each county in Alabama has at least one Circuit Court, and the number of judges in each Circuit Court varies depending on the population and caseload of the county.

Alabama District Courts: Alabama District Courts are limited jurisdiction courts that handle smaller civil claims, misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic offenses, and municipal ordinance violations. They operate at the county or municipal level, depending on the jurisdiction, and are often referred to as municipal courts or city courts in some jurisdictions.

Alabama Probate Courts: Alabama Probate Courts handle matters related to wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health, and other probate matters. Each county in Alabama has a Probate Court, and the judges of Probate Courts are elected at the county level.

Municipal Courts: Municipal Courts are local courts established by cities and towns in Alabama to handle municipal ordinance violations, traffic offenses, and other cases within their jurisdiction. They have limited jurisdiction and handle cases that occur within the boundaries of the city or town that established the court.