superior court

Superior court most commonly refers to the trial-level courts of many states such as California, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia. The name is often confused because usually there are courts above the superior courts even though they have “superior” in the title. 

In some states, superior courts are local level or even appellate level courts such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Refer to the LII's Listing by Jurisdictionfor the judicial hierarchy of other states.

[Last reviewed in April of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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