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In Alaska, the judiciary has four general levels. The District Courts exercise limited jurisdiction, covering cases on misdemeanors and small claims. The District Court also has magistrate judges who have even more limited powers; they hear certain misdemeanors and municipal ordinance violations, as well as emergency hearings in probate matters. The Superior Court of Alaska is the trial court of general jurisdiction; the Alaska Court of Appeals hears criminal appeals; and the Alaska Supreme Court is the highest appellate court, hearing primarily civil cases.