In the trial courts, a judge and sometimes a jury hears witnesses' testimony and other evidence and decides cases on the relevant facts and by applying the relevant law. In the appellate courts, cases are appealed to justices by people who believe that a mistake was made in a case while it was in the trial court. Trial courts Before June 1998, California's trial courts consisted of superior and municipal courts, each with its own jurisdiction and number of judges fixed by the Legislature. These courts also serve as probate courts, juvenile courts, and family courts and can hear appeals of municipal court decisions. There are 58 superior courts, one in each county.
Municipal courts are trial courts below the superior court level.
Municipal courts also play a role in felony cases by presiding over arraignments and preliminary hearings to determine whether there is reasonable and probable cause to hold a defendant for further proceedings in Superior Court. There were 209 Municipal Courts in California before June 1998. The goals of court unification are to improve services to the public by consolidating court resources, offering greater flexibility in case assignments, and saving taxpayer dollars. As of June 1999, judges in 53 of California's 58 counties have voted to unify their trial courts. There are two procedures specified by the California Rules of Court for voting to unify courts.