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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 Maryland, criminal courts are primarily organized into two levels: trial courts and appellate courts. The trial courts, known as the District Courts and the Circuit Courts, have jurisdiction to hear criminal cases. The District Courts handle most misdemeanors and certain felonies, while the Circuit Courts handle more serious felonies and have the authority to conduct jury trials. Appeals from these courts are typically heard by the intermediate appellate court, the Court of Special Appeals. For cases that require further review, the Court of Appeals, which is Maryland's highest court, has the discretion to hear appeals in criminal matters. Unlike Texas, where there is a separate Court of Criminal Appeals, Maryland does not have a separate appellate court exclusively for criminal cases; both civil and criminal appeals are handled within the same court system.

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Courts

criminal courts

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Maryland State Code

Courts

criminal courts

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