inferior court

Inferior courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that handle minor civil and criminal cases. They are often staffed by judges who may not have formal legal training and deal with matters such as small claims or minor offenses. These courts may also handle the initial stages of more serious criminal cases, like setting bail or determining if enough evidence exists for a trial in a higher court. Appeals from inferior courts are typically heard by superior courts, which are intermediate courts of general jurisdiction. Examples of inferior courts include magistrates' courts in England and Wales, which handle a range of criminal offenses, and similar courts in some U.S. municipalities.123