Courts wherein all civil and criminal actions are begun (except such as are brought before courts of inferior jurisdiction).

the Delaware court having jurisdiction of up to $50,000 in civil cases and all misdemeanors except certain drug-related offenses and traffic cases. The Court of Common pleas is also responsible for all preliminary hearings in felony cases and is the appellate court for Justice of the Peace Court civil (other than Landlord-Tenant cases) and criminal cases.

Intermediate original court in some states, including Pennsylvania, that usually has civil and criminal jurisdiction. In Pennsylvania Common Pleas Courts also hear appeals from certain state and most local government agencies and from the minor courts. May also be referred to as trial courts or county courts.

In United States jurisprudence, Court of Common Pleas is a term referring to a court of certain jurisdiction. It stems from the Court of Common Pleas in the English legal system and was brought to the United States by the colonial settlers along with the rest of the English common law tradition.

The Court of Common Pleas was the second oldest common law court (after Exchequer) established during the late 12th century, and dealt with civil cases between party and party. It was the busiest court in the 15th century and had a Chief Justice and five puisne judges. It was seated at Westminster Hall and on pleas over account, covenant, debt, detinue and land it had a near monopoly.