Superior court

Superior Courts in Canada exist at the federal,[1] provincial[2][3][4][5][6] and territorial levels.

[7] Their jurisdiction typically includes civil lawsuits involving contracts, torts, property, and family law.

[8] They also hear civil appeals from decisions of the provincial and territorial "inferior" courts, as well as appeals from those courts in summary conviction matters under the Criminal Code.

They also have jurisdiction of judicial review over administrative decisions by provincial or territorial government entities such as labour boards, human rights tribunals and licensing authorities.

The details of their jurisdiction will vary depending on the laws passed by the federal government and the particular province or territory.

Judges of provincial superior courts are appointed under the authority of the Constitution Act, 1867,[10] while judges of the territorial superior courts are appointed under the authority of their respective territorial acts passed by the federal Parliament.

California, Connecticut, Washington, Maine, the District of Columbia, and Georgia are all examples of such jurisdictions.

Thus, the term "superior court" persists in California only as a matter of tradition.

The Criminal Part of the Law Division and the Family Party of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court also hear appeals from the New Jersey municipal courts, courts with limited jurisdiction to hear lower-order criminal cases and to grant temporary restraining orders in domestic-violence cases.