Whats the difference between municipal court and district court, and who determines what case goes where?
According to city prosecutor Jerry Little: Municipal court handles only city ordinance violations within the Lawrence city limits — such as traffic tickets and lower-level crimes, including disorderly conduct and first- or second-offense driving under the influence. Some crimes, such as battery, could be charged in either court. A major difference between municipal and district court is that municipal court is not a “court of record.” The only record of the proceedings is in the judge’s notes. Anyone convicted in municipal court who’s not satisfied with the outcome can appeal to district court.
