North Carolina District CourtJudiciary

The North Carolina District Court is the lower trial court division of the state's unified judicial branch, the General Court of Justice. It holds original jurisdiction over infractions, criminal misdemeanors, juvenile proceedings, domestic and family law matters, and lower-value civil claims. The court division was created by the Judicial Department Act of 1965 following a 1962 constitutional amendment and began operations in 1966 to replace a fragmented patchwork of local recorder's and mayor's courts.