About State Courts
State courts handle everything from criminal cases to divorce. Most people who engage with the legal system will do so in state court. There are only a few types of cases state courts cannot take on, such as patent and copyright disputes or bankruptcy proceedings. Most states have three tiers of courts: the local trial courts, intermediate appeals courts, and a “court of last resort.” The names of these courts can vary between states. For example, many states call their highest court the “supreme” court, similar to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, New York’s highest court is the New York Court of Appeals.
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