trial courts
Initial hearing venues
Trial courts are the first level of the judicial system, where cases are initially heard and decided.
Unlike appellate courts, which review legal arguments from prior proceedings, trial courts examine evidence, hear witness testimony, and determine facts.
A jury or judge renders a verdict here: The case was filed in trial court before being appealed.
- judgesLegal proceeding overseers
- defendantParty facing charges
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
testimony · sworn testimony · cross examination · verdict · case dismissed · fact-finding · civil cases · criminal cases · jurors · arraignment · plea bargain · opening statements · courtroom procedures · bailiff · witness · gavel · courtroom · jury box
- criminal justicearrest, jail, prison, crime, guilty
- legallawyer, judge, jury, verdict, case
- legal systemattorney, landmark cases, criminal cases, lawyers, legal precedents
- courtsmagistrates, tribunals
- legal systemsconstitutional law, criminal code, penal code, laws, civil procedure
- litigationpleadings, lawsuit, plaintiff, complaint, lawsuits
trial courtsappellate courts
Tribunals reviewing lower rulings
courts of appeal · appeals courts · Supreme Court · court of last resort · highest court
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