Criminal courts are usually trial courts with the authority to hear only matters relating to criminal prosecutions—and are said to have exclusive jurisdiction of criminal matters within the county, for example. And in some states there are appellate courts with exclusive jurisdiction over criminal appeals. For example, in Texas, the intermediate courts of appeals hear both civil and criminal cases, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for criminal matters, and hears appeals of criminal matters from the intermediate courts of appeal.

In Florida, criminal courts are structured to handle matters specifically related to criminal prosecutions. The Florida court system is divided into several levels, including county courts, circuit courts, district courts of appeal, and the Florida Supreme Court. County courts handle misdemeanors and lesser criminal offenses, while circuit courts have jurisdiction over felonies and more serious crimes. Appeals from county courts go to the circuit courts, and further appeals can be made to the district courts of appeal. The Florida Supreme Court has discretionary jurisdiction to review decisions of the district courts of appeal, as well as mandatory jurisdiction in certain cases such as those imposing the death penalty. Unlike Texas, which has a separate Court of Criminal Appeals as the highest court for criminal matters, Florida's highest court hears both civil and criminal matters. However, the Florida Supreme Court's jurisdiction in criminal cases is more limited than its jurisdiction in civil cases.