Courts are state and federal government institutions with the authority to decide legal disputes and administer justice under the law in civil, criminal, and administrative matters. Courts are generally given this authority under the relevant state or federal constitution, and the relevant state or federal statutes. Courts are generally staffed by (1) one judge (in trial courts) or a panel of judges (in appellate courts) who interpret and apply the law; (2) support staff members that may include administrators (clerks); (3) a court reporter to record court proceedings; and (4) a bailiff to provide security.

The room in which court proceedings are conducted is known as the courtroom, and the building that includes the courtroom is known as the courthouse. The term “the court” may be used to refer to the judge or judges who are presiding over court proceedings. The judges in a state or federal court system are collectively known as the judiciary.

In California, courts operate at both the state and federal levels to resolve legal disputes and uphold justice in civil, criminal, and administrative cases. The authority of these courts is derived from the U.S. Constitution, the California Constitution, and relevant statutes. At the state level, the California court system is structured with the California Supreme Court at the top, followed by the Courts of Appeal, and then the Superior Courts, which serve as the trial courts for most cases. Federal courts in California include the U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Judges preside over court proceedings, with trial courts typically having a single judge and appellate courts having a panel of judges. The judiciary, or the collective body of judges, interprets and applies the law with the assistance of support staff such as clerks, court reporters, and bailiffs. Court proceedings take place in a courtroom, which is located within a courthouse. The term 'the court' can refer to the presiding judge or judges during legal proceedings.