California Court Structure: Superior, Appeal, and Supreme Courts

The California court structure has three levels: 58 superior (trial) courts, one in each county; six Courts of Appeal covering different regions of the state; and a single Supreme Court at the top. Article VI of the California Constitution sets up this hierarchy, and every case — whether a traffic ticket or a death penalty appeal — moves through it on a defined path.1Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 4

Superior Courts: Where Every Case Starts

Article VI, Section 4 requires a superior court in each of California’s 58 counties.1Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 4 These are the only courts in the state where witnesses testify, juries hear evidence, and judges make factual findings. If you’re being sued, prosecuted, divorced, or dealing with a will, this is where your case begins.

Superior courts have general jurisdiction, which means a single court hears the full range of matters. Civil departments handle contract disputes and personal injury claims. Criminal divisions cover misdemeanors and felonies. Family law departments take divorce, custody, and support. Probate handles estates and conservatorships. Juvenile divisions deal with delinquency and dependency cases involving minors, and traffic divisions process infractions like speeding tickets.

Limited and Unlimited Civil Cases

Civil cases in superior court split into two tracks based on the dollar amount in dispute. A limited civil case involves $35,000 or less and follows simplified procedures with shorter timelines and narrower discovery. An unlimited civil case involves more than $35,000 and goes through the full litigation process. Filing fees track that divide: $435 for an unlimited complaint, $370 for cases between $10,000 and $25,000, and $225 for cases at or below $10,000, with a $1,000 surcharge per side for cases designated as complex.2Superior Court of California. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule Fee waivers are available through Form FW-001 if you receive public benefits or have low income.

Small Claims

Small claims is a division inside the superior court built for people to handle disputes without a lawyer. Individuals can sue for up to $12,500; businesses are capped at $6,250.3California Courts. Small Claims in California You can consult an attorney before your hearing, but neither party may be represented by one in the courtroom. Procedures are deliberately informal compared with regular civil litigation.4California Courts. Deciding Between Small Claims and Limited Civil

Appellate Division of the Superior Court

Each superior court contains its own appellate division, created by the same constitutional section that establishes the trial courts.1Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 4 It hears appeals from limited civil cases, misdemeanor convictions, and infractions. The Chief Justice assigns judges to these panels. Unlimited civil judgments and felony cases skip this step and go straight to the Courts of Appeal.

The Six Courts of Appeal

If you believe the trial court got the law wrong, the next stop is one of California’s six appellate districts. Article VI, Section 3 directs the Legislature to divide the state geographically:5Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 3

  • First District, San Francisco — much of the Bay Area and North Coast.
  • Second District, Los Angeles — plus Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.
  • Third District, Sacramento — the Central Valley and northeastern counties.
  • Fourth District — San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial counties.
  • Fifth District, Fresno — the southern Central Valley.
  • Sixth District, San Jose — Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito.

A panel of three justices decides each case.5Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 3 No new witnesses, no new evidence. The panel works from the trial transcript, the exhibits admitted below, and written briefs from both sides. Oral argument lets attorneys clarify their positions, but the question is always whether the trial court applied the law correctly.

Appeal Deadlines

Deadlines here are unforgiving. In most civil cases, you must file a notice of appeal within 60 days after being served with a “Notice of Entry” of judgment. If nobody serves that notice, an absolute outer limit of 180 days from the date of judgment applies. In criminal cases, the deadline is typically 60 days after judgment. Courts cannot extend these deadlines after they pass.

The California Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the final authority on California law. It consists of the Chief Justice and six associate justices under Article VI, Section 2.5Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 3 Its decisions bind every other court in the state, and when the six appellate districts split on a legal question, this court resolves the conflict.

Most cases arrive through a petition for review filed after a Court of Appeal decision. That petition is due within 10 days after the appellate ruling becomes final, and the timeline cannot be extended, though the Chief Justice has limited authority to excuse a late filing if the court’s own window for ordering review is still open. The justices grant few petitions. They pick cases that raise significant legal questions with broader impact, not routine disagreements about the facts.

Automatic Death Penalty Appeals

One category of case skips the Courts of Appeal. Under Article VI, Section 11, the Supreme Court has direct appellate jurisdiction over every case in which a death sentence has been imposed.6Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 11 These appeals move from the trial court straight to the Supreme Court, which reviews the full record, hears from defense counsel and the Attorney General, and issues a written opinion that affirms or reverses the conviction, the sentence, or both.7California Department of Justice. A Victims Guide to the Capital Case Process

Collaborative Justice Courts

California runs more than 400 collaborative justice courts across nearly every jurisdiction.8California Courts Newsroom. Collaborative Justice Courts These are not a separate tier. They are specialized calendars within the superior courts that pair judicial supervision with treatment and services, aimed at the underlying issues that brought a defendant into the system.

The most common types are adult drug courts (97 statewide), mental health courts (61), veterans treatment courts (47), dependency drug courts (32), DUI courts (20), homeless courts (19), and reentry courts (18).8California Courts Newsroom. Collaborative Justice Courts Each runs with a dedicated judge and a team that typically includes prosecutors, defense attorneys, case managers, and probation officers. Eligibility rules vary by county and program; a defense attorney is the right first contact if you think you might qualify.9Judicial Branch of California. Veterans Treatment Courts

Who Sits on These Courts

Trial and appellate judges reach the bench through different routes, and the difference affects how they answer to voters.

Superior court judges serve six-year terms and are elected by county voters on a nonpartisan ballot. A candidate must have been a California-admitted attorney or a California judge for at least 10 years immediately before election or appointment.10California Courts Newsroom. Judicial Selection – How California Chooses Its Judges and Justices Mid-term vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment, with the appointee facing voters at the next election.

Justices on the Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, made up of the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, and the senior presiding justice of the affected appellate district.10California Courts Newsroom. Judicial Selection – How California Chooses Its Judges and Justices They then serve 12-year terms and face retention elections — a yes-or-no vote, with no challenger — held alongside gubernatorial elections every four years.

The Judicial Council

The administrative body behind all of this is the Judicial Council, created by Article VI, Section 6 and chaired by the Chief Justice. Its members include Supreme Court and Court of Appeal justices, superior court judges, State Bar members, legislators from each house, and nonvoting court administrators.11Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 6

The council adopts the California Rules of Court, which standardize procedures across all 58 counties so that the same requirements apply whether you file in Del Norte or San Diego.11Justia. California Constitution Article VI – Judicial – Section 6 It also reviews caseloads, allocates funding across the branch, makes annual recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, and oversees statewide programs including court interpreter services for people with limited English proficiency.