The superior court division is the only level of court in the structure of the North Carolina system where the defendant has a right to trial by jury. A jury of twelve is required and a verdict must be reach unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt. Felony Offenders may be referred to the Fayetteville Area Sentencing Center prior to sentencing. The district court is a court of general jurisdiction and is somewhat complicated to explain. These cases are subject to alternative methods of dispute resolutions prior to trial.
Matters involving child custody are subject to the provisions of custody mediation .
Criminal jurisdiction of the district court is less complicated. The district court has authority in felony cases to conduct preliminary hearings to determine whether there is probable cause to bind the defendant over to the grand jury for indictment to stand trial in superior court. In misdemeanor and infraction cases , the district court has exclusive original jurisdiction for the disposition of all actions which, if tried, is without jury. Some lesser matters may be waived before the magistrate or the clerk of superior court. Some district court cases involving disputes, may be referred by the District Attorney to the Cumberland County Dispute Resolution Center for mediation.