JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURT

• Criminal Jurisdiction:• Misdemeanors• Truancy! • Traffic violations (not felonies)• Can issue warrants/summonses • Capiases (judge-issued arrests for not showing up to

court/paying a fine)

• Civil Jurisdiction: • Cases involving less than $15,000• Landlord/Tenant Cases

ALDERMAN'S COURT

• Small, local courts- ex: City of Newark Alderman’s Court

• Jurisdiction:• Traffic• Disorderly Conduct• Alcohol offenses

FAMILY COURT

• Jurisdiction:• Juvenile Delinquency (not1st/2nd degree murder, rape,or kidnapping)• Child abuse/neglect• Paternity• Custody of Children• Divorces • Adoption

• 17 Judges; 10 in New Castle County

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

• Criminal Jurisdiction:• All Misdemeanors (except certain drug offenses)• Motor Vehicle Offenses• Preliminary Hearings in Felony Charges• Appeals of Criminal Matters from the Justice of the Peace

Courts or Alderman’s Courts

• Civil Jurisdiction  (Jury Trial Election Not Available) • Cases involving less than $50,000• Change of Name Petitions• Repeat Offender Motor Vehicle Hearings• Appeals of Civil Lawsuits from the Justice of the Peace Courts

SUPERIOR COURT

• Criminal Jurisdiction:• Felonies and drug cases (but not drug cases involving minors

or marijuana)

• Civil Jurisdiction:• No monetary limit ($50,000 and up)

• Medical/legal malpractice cases

• Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas or Family Court

North King St., Wilmington

Vegas police stopped the former Public Enemy hypeman around 11PM on Friday night (April 29) for a traffic violation and proceeded to arrest him after finding that the 52-year-old had four outstanding warrants for previous offenses.

His prior transgressions included a parking violation, driving without proof of insurance and two cases of driving without a license. Flav was arrested, taken to a nearby jail and later released but his traffic violations are no new phenomenon.

COURT OF CHANCERY

• Equity cases (cases involving ownership/businesses)• Corporate Contracts• Buying/selling of land • Real Estate

*Why would Delaware set up a separate court just to hear cases involving businesses?

SUPREME COURT

• FINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

Chief Justice Myron J. Steele

The darkness around Batman has deepened: While audiences were shattering weekend box-office records in the U.S., Christian Bale was in London, where his mother and sister reportedly leveled assault allegations against the star of "The Dark Knight" that have yet to become clear.