In 1991, the military and administrative court systems were abolished, and the four levels in the ordinary court system were reduced to three by merging the lower two levels. The monograph describes the sub-district courts, the district court, the court of appeals, and the Supreme Court. Dutch law distinguishes between summary and indictable offenses, although the demarcation between the two categories has changed considerably in recent years. The monograph also discusses the process by which lawyers can become a judge or public prosecutor, public attitudes toward the courts, and legal assistance in the Netherlands.