The supreme court structure and jurisdiction established by the 1894 constitution have remained essentially the same except for changes in the number of justices and judicial districts. The State is now divided into twelve judicial districts. The number of justices in each district may be increased by the Legislature up to one justice for each 50,000, or fraction over 30,000, of population. Justices are elected by voters of their respective districts, but their jurisdiction extends statewide. Justices normally preside over trial terms in their own districts but may be assigned to serve elsewhere in the State.
County clerks are clerks of the supreme court in their respective counties.
The supreme court appellate division continues to operate in each of the four judicial departments of the State, hearing appeals from the trial courts and the administrative agencies. The governor designates justices of each appellate division for five-year terms. Each appellate division has its own clerk. Each appellate division has the power to establish an appellate term of the supreme court to be held in and for its department or any district within the department. Currently there are appellate terms in the first and second departments.