Criminal jurisdiction; commitment

§ 11–963. Criminal jurisdiction; commitment (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this section or other law, the District of Columbia Court of General Sessions has original jurisdiction, concurrently with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, of: (1) offenses committed in the District for which the punishment is by fine only or by imprisonment for one year or less: and (2) offenses against municipal ordinances or regulations in force in the District. (b) The Court of General Sessions does not have jurisdiction of the offenses of libel, conspiracy, or violation of the postal or pension laws of the United States. (c) In all cases, whether cognizable in the Court of General Sessions or in the District Court, the Court of General Sessions has jurisdiction to make preliminary examination and commit offenders or grant bail in bailable cases, either for trial or for further examination. (d) The Court of General Sessions has jurisdiction of all criminal cases properly pending in the Municipal Court for the District of Columbia on January 1, 1963.