<Li> Exclusive jurisdiction in "civil matters where the amount in controversy is $200 or less", and </Li> <Li> "Such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law". Under this provision, the Legislature has raised the top limit on civil matters to $10,000 and assigned the JP courts, among others, the right to hear cases involving eviction as well as cases involving foreclosure and liens against personal property where the amount falls within the (revised) JP Court's jurisdiction . In addition, marriage licenses are obtained through JP offices, and JP's are also legally permitted to perform marriage ceremonies . </Li> <P> JP cases are appealed to the county court level where the case results in a trial de novo . The perfection of the appeal vacates the judgment of the JP court, which means that the higher court does not reverse or affirm the JP court when it resolves the appeal . The case is instead retried on appeal, but the jurisdictional limits of the JP court, rather than those of the court of record, apply . Appeals from JP court also differ from appeals to the courts of appeals in that they require the posting of bond . This makes such appeals more onerous to losing defendants than appeals from county courts to the court of appeals unless the defendant qualifies to proceed in forma pauperis . </P> <P> In criminal cases, cases beginning in justice court cannot be appealed beyond the county level court unless the fine is more than $100 or a constitutional matter is asserted . </P>

The jurisdiction of justice of the peace (jp) courts consists entirely of criminal matters