Lower People's Court

A Lower People's Court ( Chinese  基层 人民法院 , Pinyin Jīcéng Rénmín Fǎyuàn ) is an ordinary court in the People's Republic of China . The lower people's courts are made pursuant to Art. 18 of the Law on the People's Courts in China from 1 January 1980 at the county level and can be used as offices folk chambers or popular tribunals (人民法庭). They are headed by a president and a vice-president. They form criminal, civil and economic chambers (Art. 19). Criminal and civil cases are heard in the first instance before the lower people's courts, unless otherwise stipulated by law (Art. 21).