Trial Courts
District Court
District Court hears criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases.
Housing Court
The Housing Court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters involving the use of residential property and activities affecting such use.
Central Housing Court - Worcester Session
Juvenile Court
Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction over delinquency, guardianship matters, and youthful offender cases.
Worcester County Juvenile Court
Land Court
The Land Court has statewide jurisdiction over most real property matters, including registration of title as well as zoning and real estate tax lien cases.
Probate and Family Court
Probate and Family Court has jurisdiction over a wide range of family matters, probate proceedings, and general equity.
Worcester Probate and Family Court
Superior Court
Superior Court has jurisdiction over all felony matters, civil actions over $50,000, labor disputes where injunctive relief is sought, and medical malpractice tribunals.
Appellate Courts
Supreme Judicial Court
The SJC is the Commonwealth's highest appellate court responsible for the general superintendence of the judiciary and of the bar, makes or approves rules for the operations of all the courts, and in certain instances, provides advisory opinions, upon request, to the Governor and Legislature on various legal issues.
Appeals Court
The Appeals Court receives cases from all of the Trial Court departments and from three State agencies - the Appellate Tax Board, the Department of Industrial Accidents and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. The Appeals Court considers all types of civil cases and all types of criminal cases except first degree murder appeals, which go directly to the Supreme Judicial Court.
| Last updated: | March 31, 2020 |
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