The court reorganization of the 1960's provided for the establishment of a uniform system of district courts in three phases throughout the State. As the district court was established in a judicial district, all courts inferior to the superior court were abolished, all cases pending in abolished courts were transferred to the dockets of the district court for trial, and all records of the abolished courts were transferred to the office of the Clerk of Superior Court, who is required to maintain a system of consolidated records of both the superior court and the district court. Upon establishment of a district court in a county, the county was relieved of all expenses incident to the operation of courts except the expense for providing adequate physical facilities. As for superior courts, the General Assembly has grouped North Carolina's 100 counties into district court districts.
Jury trial is provided, upon demand, in civil cases.
An appeal in a civil case is to the Court of Appeals on questions of law only. No jury is authorized in criminal cases. Upon appeal in criminal cases, trial de novo before a jury will be had in superior court. One or more district court judges are elected for four-year terms in each district. In multi-judge districts, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court designates one of the judges as Chief District Court Judge.