Family Court: Family Court judges hear cases involving children and families, such as child abuse and neglect, adoption, child custody and visitation, domestic violence, guardianship, juvenile delinquency, paternity, persons in need of supervision (PINS), and child support. Terms are 10 years.

Criminal Court: Criminal Court judges hear violation and misdemeanor criminal cases and felony arraignments. Terms are 10 years.

Housing Court: Housing Court judges hear disputes between residential tenants and landlords and enforce housing standards laws. Terms are 5 years.

Civil Court: Civil Court Judges hear suits involving claims for damages up to $25,000. Civil Court judges are often assigned to fill vacancies in other courts, including Criminal Court and Family Court. They may also be promoted to Acting Supreme Court. Terms are 10 years.

Supreme Court: Supreme Court is divided into 2 parts, Criminal and Civil. Terms are 14 years.

• Judges in the Criminal Term hear felony criminal cases.

• Judges in the Civil Term hear cases involving claims for damages above $25,000 or non-monetary forms of relief. This term includes the Matrimonial Division, which handles divorce cases, the Mental Hygiene Division, which determines if people struggling with mental illness need mandatory treatment or court supervision, and the Commercial Division, which hears business and commercial suits involving claims for damages of at least $150,000.

Surrogate's Court: Surrogate's Court judges probate all wills and hear cases involving the estates of people who die without wills. Surrogate's Court judges also handle guardianship cases of mentally incapacitated adults. Terms are 14 years.