The North Carolina court system for criminal matters basically consists of four sectors: the District Court, Superior Court, NC Court of Appeals, and the NC Supreme Court. Which court the case is heard in will depend on generally on the type of charge involved and what stage in the litigation process the case is currently in. A lot of criminal cases begin in district court. The district court hears misdemeanors, traffic matters (including DWIs) 1st appearance felonies, level H and I felony pleas, and misdemeanor probation violations. A case may then be appealed once it is decided in district court, in which case it will be heard in superior court. Almost anything can be appealed to superior court.
The Superior Court of NC hears felonies and felony probation violations in addition to cases that are appealed from a district court. Felonies are only heard in superior court if they have been indicted by the grand jury or are set up by a bill of information. A bill of information basically means that a defendant has consented to the case going straight to superior court without being indicted by a grand jury. Any case heard in superior court is reviewed under a de novo standard of review, which basically just means the case is heard just as if it was the first time.
After receiving a final judgment in superior court a defendant then could appeal the case further to the NC Court of Appeals. After receiving a final judgment from the NC Court of Appeals, the case can be appealed up to the NC Supreme Court.
