highest court
Top judicial body
The highest court is the court of final appeal in a judicial system—the one whose decisions cannot be appealed to any other tribunal.
In the United States, this is the Supreme Court; other countries have their own: The case went all the way to the highest court in the land.
The phrase often appears in news coverage of landmark legal decisions.
- Marbury v. MadisonLandmark ruling establishing judicial review
- Brown v. Board of EducationLandmark desegregation decision
- benchShared seating surface
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- appellateRelating to appeals
oral argument · justice · judge · Roe v. Wade · landmark decision · legal precedent · constitutional · oath · certiorari · appeals process · judicial review · case · argument · gavel · chamber · brief · robes · clerk
- supreme courtschief justice, final appeal, justices
highest courttrial court
First-level judicial forum
lower court · district court · small claims court · municipal court · county court
highest courtpreliminary hearing
Proceeding to evaluate evidence
arbitration panel · kangaroo court · mock trial · moot court