Each year the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office commences about 1300 felony cases in Circuit Court, and in addition tries about 700 misdemeanor offenses appealed from lower courts. Before a felony case is set for trial, it is presented to a grand jury, which sits once a month, in order to determine whether there is probable cause to bring an indictment against the defendant. The defendant, or the prosecutor, or the court have the option of electing whether the matter will be tried by a jury or heard by a judge sitting without a jury. Lengthy trials or cases set with a jury are scheduled and heard on separate days at the docket permits. Prosecutors assigned to handle felony cases are the more experienced assistants in the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
Trials are open to the public.
The daily criminal dockets in General District Court account for over 6,000 cases a year, and consist of cases of trespassing, assault and battery, shoplifting, and other misdemeanor offenses. In addition, this court conducts preliminary hearings in many felony cases, to review evidence in deciding whether to refer the matter to a grand jury for indictment and trial in Circuit Court. Defendants are not entitled to jury trials in District Court. B. Parking Tickets Citizens desiring to contest a parking citation or a citation for violation of the City tag ordinance may do so by requesting a hearing at the Parking Adjudication Office. The address and telephone number of the office is shown on the ticket.