Definition

Noun: A court that has the legal authority and duty to review the decisions made by lower courts or administrative agencies. Its primary function is to examine whether the law was applied correctly in the original proceeding, not to retry the facts of the case.

Usage

The term "appeals court" is used to refer to the specific judicial body that hears appeals. It is often part of a proper name for a specific court.

Examples: * The defendant filed a notice to have the case heard by the appeals court. * The decision from the district court was overturned by the appeals court. * The appeals court reviewed the legal procedures of the trial to check for errors.

Advanced Usage

• "to go to appeals court": To initiate the process of having a lower court's decision reviewed by a higher court.
  • After the unfavorable verdict, their lawyer advised them to go to appeals court.
• "appeals court ruling/decision": The official judgment or order issued by an appeals court.
  • The recent appeals court ruling set an important legal precedent.

Variants and Related Words

• Appellate court: A formal and complete synonym for "appeals court." This term is very commonly used in legal contexts.
• Court of Appeals: Often the official name for a specific appeals court (e.g., the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit).
• Circuit Court: In some jurisdictions, this is the name given to an appeals court (e.g., U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals).
• Appeal (verb/noun): The act of applying to a higher court to review a lower court's decision.
• Appellant: The party who files the appeal.
• Appellee: The party against whom the appeal is filed.

Synonyms

• Appellate court
• Court of appeal(s)
• Appellate jurisdiction court

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of "appeals court" is distinct from that of a trial court. A trial court ("court of first instance") is where evidence is presented, witnesses testify, and a verdict or judgment is initially reached. An appeals court does not hold new trials with juries. Instead, it reviews the legal record from the trial court to determine if there were errors of law that affected the outcome. Its decisions are based on written briefs and oral arguments from attorneys.

Noun

1. a court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agencies