StatuteFINDER: Understanding the Role of Courts and Why it Matters Today
When domestic violence survivors learn the difference between civil and criminal law, they gain power. By also understanding how the court system works and the roles of municipal, superior, and federal courts, survivors build even greater leverage. This article explores how StatuteFINDER provides the knowledge and tools survivors need to navigate legal issues and protect their rights.
Why should you care about the fundamentals of the justice system?
As of September 25, 2025, society is dependent on the ruling of courts to function properly. The courts’ role focuses on protecting the rights of citizens in order to resolve disputes between parties and to maintain order. Anyone, no matter who you are, should understand the value of the court system because being informed can help individuals better contribute to a fairer society.
Even during the humble beginnings of humanity, it has been well known that ancient civilizations developed complex governments and standardized rules for civilization. This is no different than in today’s society; law plays an essential role—it impacts everything, whether it's handling disagreements, civil cases, or constitutional matters.
The purpose of this blog is not to overwhelm you with complex legal procedures or definitions. Instead, with the help of the StatuteFINDER app, its focus is to inform domestic violence survivors about how the justice system can help them protect themselves from legal troubles and feel confident when navigating their legal troubles themselves.
What is Civil and Criminal Law?
Domestic violence survivors can find themselves in both civil and criminal law. Hence, it’s important to be familiar with both. Courts are separated into two categories: criminal law and civil law. Criminal law is a body of law that defines behaviors dangerous to society; as a result of those behaviors, individuals are punished. Criminal prosecutors must prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In other words, it's a legal standard for prosecution to present evidence so convincing that no one can have any doubts about the defendant's guilt.
While civil law is known for non-criminal offenses because it deals with conflicts between two parties, such as organizations, which focus on matters like property, contracts, and personal injury. Civil prosecutors must prove that the plaintiff by a “preponderance of evidence” that the defendant is not likely to be liable.
For instance, there must be evidence compared with opposing evidence to conclude that the issue is more likely true than not true. Although court cases go through a long and complex process through the legal system, this is to ensure that the case is handled fairly and efficiently. With the help of tools like StatuteFINDER, you can get free legal resources immediately, and it is easy for users to understand. Just type your situation into the free AI chatbot, and StatuteFINDER will find the law (statutes) that apply to your situation.
What are the Different Types of Courts?
1) Municipal Courts
Criminal and civil cases are handled by different levels of courts depending on the severity of the crime or dispute. Municipal Courts are the lowest-level courts that address less serious offenses; for criminal cases:
Petty theft
Traffic violations
Disorderly person offenses
Those types of crimes are categorized as misdemeanors and are typically punishable by less than one year of jail time.
In contrast, civil cases are not sub-categorized into misdemeanor or felony because civil law focuses on fines/compensation rather than punishment. Municipal court civil cases could be as simple as a
Traffic violation
Noise ordinances
Pet ordinances
This type of court only covers cases under $5,000; anything exceeding this sum is handled in Superior courts.
In general, punishments under Municipal Courts include community service and potential license suspension. However, Municipal Courts have certain limitations that it can't cross; it's known as limited jurisdiction. Within its jurisdiction, the Municipal Courts have responsibilities over cases within a specific city or town.
Nonetheless, criminal cases handled by Municipal Courts are not responsible for serious crimes such as murder, robbery, or sexual assault. And civil cases in Municipal courts are not responsible for disputes that include divorce, personal injury, or breach of contract. Those cases are often transferred to the Superior Courts.
2) Superior Courts
Superior Courts in criminal law deal with indictable offenses or serious crimes. Superior Courts are categorized as felonies, typically punishable by more than one year in prison. Superior Courts in civil law only cover cases with financial claims between $5,000 to $20,000. Overall, punishments given in the Superior Courts include:
Fines
Probation
Community service
Restitution
Superior Courts have broader jurisdiction than Municipal Courts; as a result, cases typically involve more notable legal questions or complicated issues. Superior Courts' jurisdiction also allows them to review decisions made by lower courts, called appellate review.
Appellate review consists of alleged violations of federal law, and the government then prosecutes individuals for crimes, which are reviewed to determine whether the correct legal standard was used, to check if trial courts are following proper procedure, and whether constitutional rights were violated during trial.
3) Federal Courts
Unlike Municipal or Superior Courts, Federal Courts are the highest level court that involves violations of federal statutes and constitutional issues, which are within their jurisdiction. A federal case becomes aligned with criminal law if there is:
Violation of federal law
A crime committed on government property
Were crimes that occurred in multiple states
A crime that violates one of the amendments of the Constitution
Examples of Federal crimes include:
Drug trafficking
Human trafficking
Terrorism
Civil law in the Federal Courts focuses primarily on:
The constitution or disputes between individuals
Businesses
Organizations in search of financial compensation.
In general, federal crimes have a range of different punishments and penalties, with the severity of the sentence determined by the nature of the offense. This is heavily based on the defendant's criminal history or behavior during their stay in federal prison. Through good behavior and program participation, they can earn time off their sentence.
Why Does Understanding the Court System Matter?
Court systems have a vital impact on everyday life, from civil rights and fundamental freedoms to legal disputes and government actions, to guaranteeing fairness and sustaining the rule of law. Judges interpret and instill the rules of fairness in courts as unbiased persons.
Judges working for federal or state courts establish conflicts concerning disputes, the Constitution, and congressional legislation. Judges are responsible for maintaining order, listening to disputes and arguments, and using the law to interpret decisions in their cases to settle disputes and conflicts. Judges of the Supreme Court hear over 100 cases and resolve over 30 million cases in federal and state courts alone.
Judges in such courts (the Supreme Court) have the final say in a case, usually in major cases. As the judge's duty in the court system is to protect the fundamental rights of the Constitution by interpreting whether it violates those rights, ensuring fairness.
Without the court system,
Checks and balances (a system where different parts of a government limit power and control, preventing one branch from becoming more powerful than the other)
Branches of government would be abusing their power by passing unconstitutional laws.
Final Thought
Knowing how the rules of the court system work is not knowledge only for judges and lawyers. Survivors of domestic violence need to grasp an understanding of the court system because the justice system impacts their daily lives by resolving disputes related to fundamental rights.
The StatuteFINDER app helps inform survivors of domestic violence who are unaware of the legal system to find statutes in seconds. Using the free app, you will be able to learn the basic knowledge of laws that could potentially help you if you find yourself in court, and can also help you understand the justice system more efficiently, and address any other lingering legal questions.
Regardless of whether you are facing legal issues or just want to be more knowledgeable, using StatuteFINDER can inform you on how to advocate for yourself or others and play a part in contributing to a fairer society.
How to Use StatuteFINDER
If you want to learn more about StatuteFINDER or how to use the StatuteFINDER app, click the video below.
Guest Author: Brenda Gallello
Brenda Gallello is a passionate law student pursuing her passion in criminal and civil law. She actively participates in debates, volunteers in a political campaign, and aspires to learn more about criminology and psychology.
Works Cited
“Appellate Review - Ballotpedia.” Ballotpedia, 21 Aug. 2018,
Court, United States. “About the U.S. Courts of Appeals.” United States Courts,
https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/court-role-and-structure/about-us-courts-appeals. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Courts, United States. “Types of Cases.” United States Courts, 7 Mar. 2020,
Lockwood, Brian J. “Facing Charges in Municipal Court: Here’s What to Expect | Brian J
Lockwood LLC.” Criminal Defense Attorney Mobile, AL | Brian J Lockwood LLC, 25 Oct. 2024, https://www.brianlockwoodlaw.com/blog/facing-charges-in-municipal-court-heres-what-to-expect/#:~:text=Municipal%20courts%20typically%20handle%20lower,suspension%2C%20or%20even%20jail%20time.
Of California, Judicial Branch. “How Courts Work | California Courts | Self Help Guide.”
Self-Help Guide to the California Courts | California Courts | Self Help Guide, https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/court-basics/how-courts-work. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Rabner, Stuart, et al. “New Jersey Courts: A Guide to the Judicial Process.” New Jersey Courts,
NJ Courts, 12 Aug. 2019, https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/forms/12246_guide_judicial_process.pdf.
Rogers, John D. “How Much Time Do Federal Inmates Actually Serve on Their Sentence?” Law
Offices of John D. Rogers, 28 May 2023, https://johndrogerslaw.com/how-much-time-do-federal-inmates-actually-serve-on-their-sentence/.
School, Cornell Law. “Appellate Procedure | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute.”
LII / Legal Information Institute, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/appellate_procedure. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.