A municipal court is a court with limited area of authority over criminal offenses and civil disputes inside its geographic area. These courts can be located at the county or city level.
Moorcroft Municipal Court INformation
Court: Moorcroft Municipal Court
Address: “104 North Big Horn Avenue, PO Box 70, Moorcroft, WY 82721”
Phone: 307-756-3526
City: Moorcroft
County: Crook
State: Wyoming
What is the role of the Moorcroft Municipal Court?
Municipal Courts are often called “courts of limited jurisdiction.” Which means that they handle minor crimes, civil matters, and traffic matters. Courthouses like Moorcroft Municipal Court are the first level of court for these types of cases.
In other situations, the role of a county court is to deal with a large number of civil disputes within the respective region. Most cases involve divorce or other family matters, personal injury, more serious criminal charges, or breaches of contract.
County courts have the jurisdiction to deal with misdemeanors and civil matters that can not exceed the amount of $15,000, while the circuits courts handle felonies and more expansive civil cases.
TYPES OF CASES HEARD IN A MUNICIPAL COURT in Moorcroft, Wyoming
Municipal courts are the lowest level of courts in the U.S.. They are usually found within the jurisdiction where they are located, but some jurisdictions share municipal courts with other municipalities.
This can be done to better assist their population or to save money on expenditures. The cases that could be heard by a municipal court vary depending on the municipality, but typically include traffic matters, criminal misdemeanors and code infractions.
You will not find a standard for what constitutes a misdemeanor crime versus a felony crime, but generally speaking felonies would require more time in jail than misdemeanors and fines may also be higher for felonies. Traffic violations usually result in points against your driver’s license as well
how are cases managed in the municipal court in Moorcroft?
Magistrates manage hearings to determine:
- Probable cause for arrest
- Set bail amounts and the conditions of release
- Conduct arraignment hearings when charges are filed against defendants by police officers
- Issue search warrants to police officers in order to secure evidence from crime locations
- Conduct preliminary examinations to learn if there is enough evidence to issue a charge
The common process of a Municipal Court matter
Step One: An Issuance of Summons
Step Two: Appearance before Judge or Magistrate
Municipal Court Penalties in Moorcroft, WY
Penalties change often, which is why it’s best to speak with licensed lawyer. The material below represents common penalties, but may not be 100% accurate for the Moorcroft Municipal Court.
A violation is a crime that has a penalty of $500 or below, while a misdemeanor charge can have penalties up to $1,000.00 or one year in local jail. A person’s driving privileges may be suspended for six months if they receive three speeding tickets within 12 months.
The penalties for different charges in municipal courts vary depending on the severity of an charges. For example, if you are caught with marijuana without having a license for it then you could be fined up to $2,000 or spend up to six months in jail.
Moorcroft Municipal Court Records
Municipal Court records from a municipal government could be difficult to find because they are not always stored in one location or system. The records that an individual might need to depend on the type of case they have before the court, where it’s at in the process, and what kind of of information is needed by law to be present.
Questions ABOUT the Moorcroft Municipal Court
What is municipal court in Moorcroft, Wyoming?
In Wyoming, the municipal court is a lower court with civil and criminal matters within a town or municipality. Municipal courts have a small jurisdiction and have limited authority as well, dealing only with petty crimes and misdemeanor charges.
What does the municipal court handle in Moorcroft, Wyoming?
Depending on the size of the municipality, a municipal court can handle a civil division (cases with less than $15,000 at issue), a traffic/criminal division, or a housing and environmental division. Serious cases/crimes are handled by higher authorities.
How many judges does the Moorcroft Municipal Court have?
The number of judges depends on the municipality’s size.
How are cases heard in municipal courts in Wyoming?
A municipal courthouse judge may be either elected or appointed to serve for a set term of years or until retirement. Judges are commonly chosen by precincts with each precinct’s results judged according to population. Municipal judges are generally not attorneys but have some legal education and must finish many hours of ongoing courses every year to maintain their credentials.