THE LOWER COURTS

1) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) - alternative to courts involving less adversarial proceedings

 2) Inferior court (lower court) - courts at the bottom of the judicial hierarchy

 3) Justice of the peace - generic name for lower courts in rural areas

 4) Misdemeanor - offense punishable by fine or imprisonment of less than one year in jail

 5) Municipal court - lower court in a city (urban counterpart of Justice of Peace court)

 6) Ordinance - city or county regulation

 7) Small claims court - court providing expedited, informal procedures for small civil cases

 8) Trial courts of limited jurisdiction - another name for lower courts