Washington D.C. Court Set Up - Essay Example

Washington D.C. Court Set Up The primary importance of any court system is to provide justice to all people within their jurisdictions without fear or favor. However, different states have different court structures depending on a variety of factors. The Washington D.C. has an elaborate court set up with each section having different functions. This is a brief description of the Washington D.C court system structure. The highest office is occupied by Joint Committee on Judicial administration.

The Joint Committee on Judicial administration oversees all the activities and functions of the whole court structure. Actually, “The Joint Committee on Judicial Administration is the policy-making body for the D.C. Courts” (District of Columbia Courts web). The highest court is the court of appeals, which is headed by the chief Judge. The court of appeals, under clerk of court, runs the administrative division, case management division, office on admissions and unauthorized practice, and the public office.

According to D.C Court of appeals (web), “D.C. Court of Appeals is the equivalent of a state supreme court. As the highest court for the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals is authorized to review all final orders, judgments, and specified interlocutory orders of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.” Below the court of appeals, there exists the superior court. The superior court, under directorship of clerk of court oversees various divisions which include, civil division, crime victims compensation program, criminal division, domestic violence unit, multi-door dispute resolution division, office of the auditor master, probate division as well as special operations division.

It also holds one office, which handles, family court and family court operations division and social services division. The main court system is headed by deputy executive officer. Just like the superior court, the main court system has nine divisions. These divisions include division of administrative services, budget, and finance, capital projects and facilities management division, center for education and training, court reporting and recording division, human resource division, as well as information technology division.

The court system also runs the office of general counsel and research and development division. In summary, the D.C courts have a hierarchical type of set up where mandate and jurisdictions rise up the ladder. The main court system works to provide administrative assistance to all departments. The court of appeals is the highest in the rank and mainly deals with appeals and special cases that may not be handled by superior or trial court. The trial court is mandated with the responsibility and local jurisdiction of handling most of the legal cases.

On the other hand, the court of appeals is the court of last resort where all matters that have surpassed the powers of lower courts are handled. Works Cited DC Court of Appeals. “General Information”. DC Court of Appeals 2012. Web 26, January 2012 http://www.dcappeals.gov/dccourts/appeals/general.jsp District of Columbia Courts. “District of Columbia Courts Organizational Structure”. District of Columbia Courts. 2012. Web 26, January 2012 http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/about/org.jsp