Court Structure and Jurisdiction
Court structure questions test where a case belongs, who hears it, and what can be appealed. New Jersey separates law, equity, tax, and municipal matters within a single Superior Court structure.
State courts
The Supreme Court has seven justices and is the final state appellate court. The Appellate Division hears appeals from the Superior Court and the Tax Court. The Superior Court includes the Law Division, with Civil and Criminal Parts and the Special Civil Part; the Chancery Division, with General Equity and Probate Parts; and the Family Part. The Tax Court hears state tax disputes. Municipal courts handle local ordinance violations and minor criminal matters, not general civil claims.
Jurisdiction and venue
Subject matter jurisdiction is the court's power over the type of case. Personal jurisdiction is power over the person. Venue under R. 4:3-2 is generally the county where the cause of action arose or where the defendant resides, with special rules for real property. The Special Civil Part handles civil claims up to $15,000; small claims are a subset up to $5,000.
Federal courts
The District of New Jersey has vicinages in Newark, Trenton, and Camden. Appeals go to the Third Circuit. Federal jurisdiction requires a federal question or diversity with the statutory amount.
Worked example
A $12,000 contract dispute between New Jersey residents belongs in the Special Civil Part, not small claims. A $4,000 dispute may use small claims. A state tax assessment goes to the Tax Court. A federal civil rights claim may be filed in the District of New Jersey.
Traps
Filing a civil contract case in municipal court. Assuming the Appellate Division is a trial court. Ignoring the amount in controversy for the Special Civil Part. Filing in the wrong vicinage without checking venue.