Definition

Noun: A court that has the legal authority to hear and review appeals from the decisions of lower courts or administrative agencies. Its primary function is to examine the procedures and the application of the law in the lower court's proceedings, not to retry the facts of the case.

Usage

An appellate court reviews decisions made by trial courts or other lower tribunals. It does not conduct trials with witnesses or juries. Instead, it reviews the record of the lower court's proceedings and the legal arguments (briefs) submitted by the parties.

Examples

• The defendant filed an appeal, and the case was sent to the appellate court for review.
• The appellate court overturned the lower court's ruling due to a significant legal error.
• After losing the trial, their lawyer advised them to take the matter to the appellate court.

Advanced Usage

• "To sit on an appellate court": To serve as a judge in such a court.
  • After decades as a trial judge, she was appointed to sit on an appellate court.
• "Appellate court opinion": The written document issued by the court explaining its decision on an appeal.
  • The lawyer carefully studied the appellate court opinion to understand the judge's reasoning.

Variants and Related Words

• Appellate (adjective): Relating to or dealing with appeals.
  • The lawyer specialized in appellate law.
• Court of Appeals (noun phrase): A common name for an intermediate appellate court.
  • The case is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
• Supreme Court (noun phrase): The highest appellate court in a jurisdiction.
  • The Supreme Court is the court of last resort.

Synonyms

• Court of appeal
• Appeals court
• Reviewing court

Related Phrases

• "To appeal to a higher court": To formally request that a higher court review a lower court's decision.
  • They decided to appeal to a higher court.
• "Appellate jurisdiction": The legal authority of a court to review decisions from a lower court.
  • The constitution defines the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction.

Noun

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