Superior Courts of California

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Seal of the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey

The Superior Courts of California are the superior courts in California with general jurisdiction to hear and decide any civil or criminal action which is not specially designated to be heard in some other court. Each county in California has a superior court. Until 1998, each California county had a municipal court as well. In that year, Proposition 220 was approved by the state's voters, amending the state's Consitution to allow judges in each county to decide whether or not to retain municipal courts. By 2001, every California county had consolidated its municipal courts into the superior courts.

The superior courts are the lowest level of state courts in California holding general jurisdiction on civil and criminal matters. Above them are the six California Courts of Appeal, each of which hold jurisdiction over several counties, and the Supreme Court of California. As of 2007, the Superior Courts of California consisted of over 1,500 judges, and make up the largest part of California's judicial system, which is in turn the largest in the United States. Judges are elected by each county's voters to six-year terms. Vacancies on the court are filled by appointments made by the Governor.