What is the Difference Between District and Superior Court?

The main difference between district and superior court lies in their jurisdiction and the types of cases they handle.

Superior Court:

• The Superior Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction, meaning it hears a wide range of civil and noncriminal matters, as well as criminal cases arising under criminal laws applicable exclusively to the specific jurisdiction (e.g., Washington, D.C.).
• The Superior Court often handles major felony cases and has the authority to impose sentences to the House of Corrections or State Prison.

District Court:

• The District Court typically handles misdemeanors, where the maximum sentence is 2 ½ years in the House of Corrections.
• In Washington, D.C., the District Court is the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, which is a federal court handling cases related to federal law.

In the District of Columbia, the Court of Appeals serves as the court of last resort, or supreme court, for both the Superior Court and the District Court. The DC Courts are comprised of the DC Court of Appeals, the Superior Court of DC, and the Court System, which provides administrative support to both courts.

Comparative Table: District vs Superior Court

Here is a table comparing the differences between District and Superior Court:

In summary, District Courts generally handle less serious criminal cases and have a lower jurisdictional amount for civil cases compared to Superior Courts. Superior Courts handle more serious criminal cases and have a higher jurisdictional amount for civil cases. They also have appellate jurisdiction over certain proceedings in District Court.