{{Short description|Category of courts}} [[File:Covington,_Va_-_Allegheny_General_District_Court.jpg|thumb|right|400px| Allegheny General District Court, [[Covington, Virginia]].]]
'''District courts''' are a category of [[court]]s which exists in several nations. Sometimes they are called "small case courts" because they are usually at the lowest level of the hierarchy.
These courts generally work under a higher court which exercises control over the lower court and supervises it.
==Americas==
===United States=== {{main|United States district court}} {{More citations needed section|date=April 2016}} In the [[United States federal courts]], the [[United States district court]]s are the general [[trial court]]s. The federal district courts have jurisdiction over [[federal question jurisdiction|federal questions]] (trials and cases interpreting the Constitution, Federal law, or which involve federal statutes or crimes) and [[diversity jurisdiction|diversity]] (cases otherwise subject to jurisdiction in a state trial court but which are between [[litigant]]s of different states and/or countries). There are 89 federal districts in the 50 states. United States district courts also exist in [[Puerto Rico]], the [[Virgin Islands]], the [[District of Columbia]], [[Guam]], and the [[Northern Mariana Islands]]. In total, there are 94 U.S. district courts. Decisions from these courts are subject to review by one of the 13 [[United States court of appeals]], which are, in turn, subject to review by the [[Supreme Court of the United States]].
Some states maintain [[state court (United States)|state courts]] called "district courts." In [[Florida]], the [[Florida District Courts of Appeal]] are intermediate [[appellate court]]s. In [[Texas]], the [[Texas District Courts]] are trial courts of [[general jurisdiction]], hearing all [[felony]] and [[divorce]] cases, [[election]] controversies, and many civil matters. The [[Hawaii State District Courts]], and those in Alaska, New York, and Kentucky, to name a few, are courts of [[limited jurisdiction]].
==Asia and Oceania== ===Australia=== {{Further|Judiciary of Australia#Australian court hierarchy}} '''District court''' is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian states. They hear indictable (serious) criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some states, manslaughter. Their civil jurisdiction is also intermediate, typically being for civil disputes where the amount claimed is greater than a $75 000 but less than $750 000.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the District Court |publisher=District Court of Western Australia |url=http://www.districtcourt.wa.gov.au/A/aboutDistrictCourt.aspx?uid=7689-4890-3639-8152}}</ref> The limits vary between Australian states. In Victoria, the equivalent court is called the County Court.<ref>{{cite web |title=County Court of Victoria |url=http://www.countycourt.vic.gov.au |publisher=County Court of Victoria}}</ref> Below them are the [[magistrates' court]]s, known as the Local Court in New South Wales. Above them are the state supreme courts.
===China=== {{See|Primary people's court|Local people's court}}
===Cyprus=== {{Main|Judiciary of Cyprus#District Courts}} The District Courts are courts of first instance for civil matters (except those which are dealt with by special courts) and criminal cases involving prison sentences of five years of less. There are six such courts. ===Hong Kong=== {{main|District Court (Hong Kong)}} The District Court in [[Hong Kong]], established in 1953, has limited jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters. With effect from 1 December 2003, it has civil jurisdiction to hear monetary claims up to [[HK$]]1 million or, where the claims are for recovery of land, the annual rent or rateable value does not exceed HK$240,000. In its criminal jurisdiction, the court may try the more serious cases, with the main exceptions of murder, manslaughter and rape. The maximum term of imprisonment it may impose is seven years. There are one Chief District Judge and 30 District Judges, among which three district judges sit in the Family Court and two district judges sit in the Lands Tribunal as Presiding Officers.
===India=== {{main|District courts of India}} The district courts of [[India]] are presided over by a [[judge]].<ref>{{cite web |title=District Courts of India |url=http://www.indiancourts.nic.in/districtcourt.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122225727/http://indiancourts.nic.in/districtcourt.html |archive-date=2013-01-22}}</ref> They administer justice in India at a [[districts of India|district]] level. These courts are under administrative and judicial control of the [[high courts of India|high court]] of the [[state (India)|state]] to which the district concerned belongs.
===Indonesia=== {{Further|Judiciary of Indonesia#Public courts}} The district courts of [[Indonesia]] are part of public courts for all cases non-related to religion, constitutions or military matters. The decisions of guilt or innocence are made by a panel of three judges led by a chair judge.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.law.unimelb.edu.au/files/dmfile/Indonesians_Trial_Process_and_Legal_System_Background_Notes1.pdf| title=Indonesian Trial Process and Legal System Background Notes|first=Tim|last=Lindsey|publisher=University of Melbourne|access-date=May 30, 2014}}</ref>
===Israel=== {{Further|Judiciary of Israel#District courts}} The district courts in [[Israel]] serve both as the appellate courts and also as the court of first instance for some cases (e.g. real estate or IP). In criminal matters, they try cases where the accused faces a penalty of at least seven years imprisonment. As of 2007, there are six district courts:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/123435 |title=New District Court Opens: Central Region |access-date=2007-08-21 }}</ref> *[[Jerusalem]] *[[Tel Aviv]] *[[Haifa]] *[[Nazareth]] *Central Region ([[Lod]]) *[[Beersheba]]
===Japan=== {{Further|Judicial system of Japan#Courts}} [[Japan]] has 50 district courts, one in each of the 47 [[prefectures of Japan|prefectures]]' capitals, and one in the three cities of [[Hakodate, Hokkaidō|Hakodate]], [[Asahikawa, Hokkaidō|Asahikawa]] and [[Kushiro, Hokkaidō|Kushiro]] on Hokkaido. They are the first court level for most civil and criminal cases. Most cases are held with one judge.<ref>{{cite web |website=The Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet |url=http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/judiciary/0620system.html |title=The Japanese Judicial System |date=July 1999 |access-date=September 27, 2012}}</ref>
===New Zealand=== {{main|District Court of New Zealand}}
The District Court of New Zealand deals with all criminal matters other than murder, manslaughter and specified offences such as treason.<ref>Criminal Procedure Act 1947 (NZ) ss 73-74</ref> The court can also hear civil claims up to $350,000.<ref>General civil jurisdiction [http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2016/0049/latest/whole.html#DLM6942370 District Court Act 2016] Retrieved on September 27, 2012</ref> District courts were called magistrates' courts until 1980.
===Pakistan=== {{main|District courts of Pakistan}} The district courts of [[Pakistan]] are presided over by a senior [[judge]]. They administer justice in Pakistan at a [[districts of Pakistan|district]] level. These courts are under administrative and judicial control of the [[high courts of Pakistan|high court]] of the [[province (Pakistan)|province]] to which the district concerned belongs.
==Europe==
===Austria=== [[Austria]] has some 200 district, or local, courts, which decide minor [[civil case|civil]] and [[Criminal law|criminal cases]].
===Denmark=== {{Further|Courts of Denmark}}
[[Denmark]] consists of 24 [[judicial district]]s, each being served by a district court ([[Danish language|Danish]]: ''byret'', literally meaning "town court"). Each district court serves one or more of the country's 98 [[Municipalities of Denmark|municipalities]], except that [[Copenhagen Municipality]] is divided between two district because of its size. Before 2007, when the number of municipalities was reduced from 271 to 98, there were 82 district courts.
The two [[high court]]s (the [[Østre Landsret|Eastern]] and [[Vestre Landsret|Western]]) serve as [[Appellate court|courts of appeal]].
===Finland=== : ''See also [[Judicial system of Finland#District Courts|Judicial system of Finland]]''
[[Finland]] has 27 district courts, which deal with criminal cases, civil cases and petitionary matters. Since December 1, 1993 these have been called ''käräjäoikeus'' in [[Finnish language|Finnish]] and ''tingsrätt'' in [[Swedish language|Swedish]]. Each court is headed by the Chief Judge and other District Judges. In certain cases, the district court may also have lay judges. The cases are handled and resolved either in a session or in chambers. In simple cases decisions can be made by notaries.
===Germany=== {{Further|Judiciary of Germany}}
[[Germany]] has 115 regional courts (''[[Landgericht (Germany)|Landgericht]]e''), which are superior to the local courts (''[[Amtsgericht]]e'') and below the higher regional courts (''[[Oberlandesgericht]]e'').
===Iceland=== {{See also|Politics of Iceland#Judicial branch}}
The district courts are the lowest judicial level in [[Iceland]]. There are eight courts operating in separate districts, the District Court of Reykjavík, the District Court of Reykjanes, the District Court of Western Iceland, the District Court of the Westfjords, the District Court of Northwest Iceland, the District Court of Northeast Iceland, the District Court of East Iceland and the District Court of South Iceland. The courts handle all cases in their first instance. Subject to conditions, cases can be appealed to a higher court, ultimately the [[Supreme Court of Iceland]] whose conclusions are final.
===Ireland=== {{main|District Court (Ireland)}}
The District Court in Ireland was established in 1924. The court handles civil claims of up to €15,000 and [[summary offence|summary]] criminal trials (minor offences tried by a judge alone where the maximum penalty is 12 months on indictment in the [[Circuit Court (Ireland)|Circuit Court]] and the granting of licences for the sale of alcohol.
===Norway=== {{main|District court (Norway)}} The Norwegian ''tingrett'' deals with criminal and civil cases. The term ''tingrett'' was introduced in 2002, and replaced the previous terms ''byrett'' and ''herredsrett'' as designations for district courts.
===Poland=== {{See also|Regional court (Poland)|Judiciary of Poland}}
===Sweden=== [[File:Örebro tingsrätt May 2014.jpg|thumbnail|Örebro District Court in [[Örebro]], Sweden]] {{main|District courts of Sweden}} In Sweden, there are 48 district courts ({{langx|sv|tingsrätt}}); Tingsrätt is also used to describe such courts in Finland and Norway. While relatively recent creations in their current form, the term ''tingsrätt'' refers to the [[thing (assembly)|''ting'']] ("thing"), the ancient term for governing assemblies in these and other Nordic and Germanic countries, where disputes would be brought up to be settled. The specific term ''tingsrätt'' was used for courts already in 17th century Sweden, but was later discontinued. It's the court of first instance; dealing with criminal cases, some civil law disputes and a number of non-contentious matters. Private cases against decisions by the public authorities are generally handled by the ''tingsrätt'' or the ''förvaltningsrätt'' ([[administrative court]]), depending on the authority in question.
In 1971, the ''tingsrätt''{{'}}s became the [[district courts of Sweden]], replacing the previous distinction between ''rådhusrätt'' in larger cities and the ''häradsrätt''{{'}}s for the [[assize courts of Sweden]] in other parts of the country. Later reforms have substantially reduced the number of these courts from around 100 to currently (2014) 48.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Swedish courts | url=http://www.domstol.se/Om-Sveriges-Domstolar/Domstolarna/Tingsratt/ | publisher=[[Domstolsverket]] | access-date=2014-03-14}}</ref>
Appeals against a district court are made to the [[Courts of appeal in Sweden|appellate court]] ({{langx|sv|hovrätt}}).<ref name=snca-en>{{cite web|title=District court|url=http://domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/District-court/|publisher=[[Swedish National Courts Administration]]|access-date=30 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801153403/http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/District-court/|archive-date=1 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===United Kingdom===
====Scotland==== {{main|District court (Scotland)}}
District courts were introduced in 1975 as replacement for the [[burgh police court]]s; they dealt with the most minor [[crime]]s. They were run by the [[Local government in Scotland|local authorities]]. Each court comprised one or more [[justice of the peace|justices of the peace]] (lay magistrates) who sat alone or in threes with a qualified legal assessor as convener or clerk of court.
They handled many cases of [[breach of the peace]], [[drunkenness]], [[Assault|minor assault]]s, [[Theft|petty theft]], and offences under the [[Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982]].
District courts operated under [[summary procedure]] and could not impose a fine in excess of £2,500 or sentence an offender to more than 60 days in [[prison]]. In practice, most offences were dealt with by a fine.
District courts in Scotland were abolished and replaced with [[justice of the peace court]]s under the provisions of the [[Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007]]. The justice of the peace courts are managed by the [[Scottish Court Service]]. Responsibility for the courts was transferred from the local authorities in a rolling programme of court unification which concluded in February 2010. District courts were replaced by JP courts in sheriffdoms as follows:
*Sheriffdom of [[Lothian and Borders]], 10 March 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/04141729/1 |title=Circular JD/1/2008: The Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 3 and Savings) Order 2008 |first=Gerard |last=Bonnar |publisher=The Scottish Government |date=25 February 2008}}</ref> *Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highlands and Islands, 2 June 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/03113442/1 |title=Criminal Justice Directorate Circular No: JD/5/2008: The Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2008 |first=Gerard |last=Bonnar |publisher=The Scottish Government |date=29 May 2008}}</ref> *Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, 8 December 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/11/27154900/1 |title=Criminal Justice Directorate Circular JD/9/2008 The Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2008 |first=Gerard |last=Bonnar |publisher=The Scottish Government |date=24 November 2008}}</ref> *Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife, 23 February 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/23February2009 |title=JD Circular No. JD/2/2009 The Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform)(Scotland) Act 2007 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2008 |first=Gerard |last=Bonnar |publisher=The Scottish Government |date=10 February 2009}}</ref> *Sheriffdom of North Strathclyde, 14 December 2009<ref>The Justice of the Peace Courts (Sheriffdom of North Strathclyde) etc. Order 2009 SSI 2009/331</ref> *Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, [[Dumfries & Galloway]], 22 February 2010<ref>The Justice of the Peace Courts (Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway) etc. Order 2009 SSI 2009/332</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041017012912/http://www.oikeus.fi/15954.htm Finnish district courts] * [http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/UnderstandingtheFederalCourts/DistrictCourts.aspx United States district courts] * [http://openjurist.org/us-court/type/district-court United States District Courts in each state]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:District Court}} [[Category:Courts by type]]