lower court
Where appeals originate
A lower court is a court whose decisions can be reviewed and potentially overturned by a higher court.
The term is relative—a state appeals court is lower than the state supreme court but higher than trial courts.
The appeals court overturned the lower court's ruling.
In legal reporting, lower court often refers to whatever court previously heard the case now under review.
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Judicial examination of claims
- verdictOfficial court decision
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- witnessOne who attests
arraignment · plea · jury · prosecution · defense · cross-examination · objection · ruling
remand
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trial
Judicial examination of claims
witness · arraignment · plea · jury · prosecution · defense · cross-examination · objection · ruling · judgment
magistrate
Civil judicial officer
- justice of the peaceLocal judicial officer, limited jurisdiction
- courtsdistrict courts, federal courts, circuit courts, municipal courts, trial courts
- appealsappeal, case law, legal precedents, judicial review, legal appeals
- Supreme Courtchief justice, associate justices, justices, certiorari, oral arguments
- appeals courtsappeals courts, appellate courts, circuit courts, appellate brief, circuit judges
lower courthigher court
Court hearing appeals
supreme court · appellate court · court of appeals · high court · court of last resort
court, lower, courtesy, courtship, courting, courthouse, courtly, courtroom, courted