Civil Court

• Cases appearing in civil court typically involve disputes between private parties. For example, If a contractor fails to honor an agreement, you can sue him in civil court.
  
  

Criminal Court

• Criminal court is for cases involving crimes, such as selling illegal drugs or committing murder. According to the Idaho Third Judicial District Court website, a criminal case is one in which an individual is accused of actions potentially threatening to society. These criminal acts are classified as misdemeanors or felonies. The punishment for a misdemeanor may be a fine or a few days in jail. Individuals found guilty of a felony may be sent to prison.
  
  

Proceedings

• The government initiates criminal court cases. Law enforcement officials work with the prosecutor's office to prepare the case. The prosecutor decides whether to bring a criminal case. A civil case is normally a dispute between private parties. All it takes for a civil case to begin is for one of them to file a complaint with the court.
  
  

Adjudication

• A judge or a jury can determine the outcome of civil court case. In many civil court proceedings, though, there is no jury involved. For instance, a judge can grant a divorce without any input from a jury. A civil case might occasionally require a jury, such as when a monetary award is at stake. Although a person accused of a crime has a right to a trial by a jury, he can waive that right and be tried by a judge, which is known as a bench trial.
  
  

Considerations

• Some cases involve civil and criminal courts. For instance, if you kill someone while driving drunk, you may be charged with a crime and appear in criminal court. The deceased person's family can also seek damages from you by bringing a lawsuit in a civil court.