A municipal court is a court with small jurisdiction over criminal charges and civil disputes inside its geographic area. These courts can be found at the city or county tier.
Niles Municipal Court Information
Court: Niles Municipal Court
Address: “15 E State St, Niles, OH 44446”
Phone: 330-652-5863
City: Niles
County: Trumbull county
State: Ohio
What Is the Role of the Niles Municipal Court?
Municipal Courts are commonly called “courts of limited jurisdiction.” This means that they deal with minor criminal charges, civil disputes, traffic violations, and other non-traffic misdemeanors. Courts like Niles Municipal Court are the first level of court for this group of matters.
On the other hand, the purpose of a county court is to deal with a large number of civil disputes within the respective region (Niles, McDonald Village and Weathersfield Township). Most cases involve divorce or other family matters, injury cases, more serious criminal charges, or contract disputes.
County courthouses have the jurisdiction to deal with misdemeanors and civil matters that won’t exceed the amount of $15,000, while the circuits courts handle felony cases and bigger civil cases.
Types of Cases Heard in a Municipal Court in Niles, Ohio
Municipal courts are the bottom rung of courts in the United States with limited resources. They are usually found within the jurisdiction where they are located, but some locales share municipal courts with other municipalities.
This can be done to better service their people or to save money on costs. The matters that could be heard by a municipal court vary depending on the municipality, but typically include traffic matters, small criminal charges and code infractions.
You will not see a set definition for what makes a misdemeanor charge versus a felony charge, but generally speaking felonies would require more time in jail than misdemeanor crimes and fines may also be higher for felonies. Violation of traffic rights usually result in points against your driver’s license as well.
What Is the Procedure for Cases in the Municipal Court in Niles?
Municipal courts are the entry level of the court system in the United States. They have jurisdiction over minor crimes, traffic violations, and other civil matters. Municipal courts have often been called city courts or town courts. Cases are managed by a magistrate who is usually an attorney, judge, or retired judge. Magistrates may be appointed by the mayor or city council members to provide assistance for a specific period of time to the public.
Judges administer 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 law enforcement officers in order to seize evidence from crime locations
-
Conduct preliminary inquiries to determine if there is enough evidence to issue a charge
The Typical Process of a Municipal Court Matter
The common process of a municipal court case can be difficult to navigate. The next portion is an overview of the common items involved in a regular municipal court case.
First Step: Issuance of Summons
A summons from the court is sent when an individual has been charged with violating a local rule or state law. The person who has received the summons from the court will need to appear at their assigned time and place, which is usually the municipal courtroom, to respond for the charge(s) against them. If they fail to appear, they may be found guilty anyways and could be fined up to $1k or given a jail sentence if it’s a serious enough offense.
Second Step: Show Up Before Judge or Magistrate
If someone fails to respond after being summoned by the judge, there may be a warrant issued for the individual.
Municipal Court Penalties in Niles, Oh
Penalties change often, which is why it’s best to speak with licensed attorney. The information below represents common penalties, but may not be accurate for the Niles Municipal Court.
A violation is an offense that has a penalty of $500 or less, while a misdemeanor charge can carry penalties up to $1k 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 offenses in municipal courthouses vary depending on the severity of an charges. For example, if you are caught with marijuana without having a prescription for it then you could be fined up to $2,000 or spend up to six months in jail.
Niles Municipal Court Records
Municipal Court records from a municipal court may be difficult to find because they are not always stored in one place or website system. The records that an individual might need to depend on the type of case they have in front of the court, where it’s at in the process, and what kind of of information is required by law to be available.
Questions About the Niles Municipal Court
What Is the Municipal Court in Niles, Ohio County?
In Ohio, the municipal court is a lower level with civil and criminal jurisdiction within a town or municipality. Municipal courts have a small location and have limited authority as well, dealing only with petty offenses and misdemeanors.
What Does the Municipal Court Handle in Niles, Ohio?
Depending on the area 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. More serious cases/crimes are handled by higher authorities.
How Many Judges Does the Niles Municipal Court Have?
The count of judges depends on the municipality’s size.
How Are Cases Heard in Municipal Courts in Ohio?
Ohio court judges may be either elected or appointed to serve for a set term of years or until retirement. Judges are sometimes elected by precincts with each precinct’s results evaluated according to population. Municipal magistrates are generally not attorneys but have some legal education and must complete many hours of ongoing courses every period to maintain their licenses.
