courts of law

courts of law Judicial assemblies established to try legal cases and to impose punishment for wrongdoing or to remedy a damage. The history of the court system lies in the English assumption of common law as its legal basis (which Britain introduced to its former colonies, including the USA and Canada) as opposed to Roman law, which is the judicial basis of many other countries around the world. In the UK and the USA, courts are hierarchically organized, and try suits of two different types, civil and criminal. In the UK, civil law cases are heard by county courts and the High Court of Justice, while those of criminal law are heard by crown courts or magistrates' court. Serious criminal offences are referred from magistrates' courts to a crown court. The Court of Appeal is divided into civil and criminal divisions and hears appeals from crown courts, county courts and the High Court. Appeals from the High Court are heard by the House of Lords, the Supreme Court of Appeal. In the USA, there are two court systems. Federal courts administer cases involving the nation, federal laws, interstate disputes and non-US nationals. They include the Supreme Court, courts of appeal, district courts and specialist courts (that cover issues such as tax or patents). State courts are divided into superior and inferior courts. Superior courts include the State Supreme Court, county and municipal courts. Inferior courts include magistrates' courts, and tribunals such as traffic courts, juvenile and small claims courts.