1. Organization of NC State Courts
NC Supreme Court
NC Court of Appeals
NC Superior
NC District Courts

2. NC State Judges Elected by the people No specific qualifications
District judges – 4 year terms
All other judges – 8 year terms
Can be impeached and removed from office

3. NC Court System NC District Courts (46 in NC)
Trial Courts – every county has a district and superior court supported by Sheriff Dept., DAs, and magistrates
NC District Courts (46 in NC)
Tries misdemeanors (smaller crimes), juvenile law, divorce and family law, traffic violations, and small civil cases (less than $10k), NO jury used, 1 judge
NC Superior Courts –
Tries felonies (severe crimes) and large civil cases (over $10k), ONLY NC court to use a jury, 1 judge

4. Other Judicial Officers
Clerk of (Superior) Court – elected by voters
Responsibilities – debt collection/foreclosure (approval of property sale), puts a county seal on wills
Magistrate – issues search and arrest warrants, appointed by superior court judge
District Attorney – represents the state in criminal cases in district and superior court, juvenile delinquency cases
Court appointed attorney or public defender

5. Appellate Courts NC Court of Appeals –
Court used by individuals to get original verdict overturned, does NOT have a jury, 15 judges who in hear cases in groups of 3
NC Supreme Court –
Highest court in NC, does NOT have a jury, 7 justices