Superior Court of the District of Columbia

The Superior Court of the District of Columbia is the local trial court for the District of Columbia. It hears cases involving criminal and civil law. The court also handles specialized cases in the following areas: family court, landlord and tenant, probate, tax, and traffic offenses. All appeals of Superior Court decisions go to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

The Superior Court was established by the United States Congress as the trial court of general jurisdiction for D.C. in 1970. The Court consists of a chief judge and 61 associate judges. The Court is assisted by the service of 24 magistrate judges, as well as retired judges who have been recommended and approved as senior judges.

In Superior Court, the government is represented by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia or the District of Columbia, Office of the Attorney General, depending on the nature and severity of the crime or civil matter.

Organizational units

• Civil Division - Civil actions and actions in equity; handles temporary restraining orders other than those involving domestic violence. The United States federal courts have jurisdiction over some civil matters within the District of Columbia.
• Civil Actions Branch - Amount in controversy above $5,000 or cases requesting equitable relief such as declarative judgments, injunctive relief, writs of attachment
• Landlord and Tenant Branch - processes cases filed for possession of real property or violations of lease......
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