Definition

1. Verb:

   • To hear and try a case for the first time: The action of a court conducting the initial trial of a legal case, examining evidence and making the first judgment.

2. Adjective:

   • First-instance: Describing a court, trial, or judgment that is at the initial level of the judicial process.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Tòa án sẽ sơ thẩm vụ án vào tuần tới. (The court will hear and try the case for the first time next week.)
  • Vụ kiện đã được sơ thẩm tại tòa án địa phương. (The lawsuit was tried at first instance in the local court.)

• Adjective:

  • Đây là bản án sơ thẩm. (This is a first-instance judgment.)
  • Phiên tòa sơ thẩm đã kết thúc. (The first-instance trial has concluded.)

Advanced Usage

• In legal contexts: The term is strictly used within the judicial system to distinguish the initial trial from subsequent appeals (phúc thẩm, giám đốc thẩm).
  • Sau khi bản án sơ thẩm được tuyên, bị cáo có quyền kháng cáo. (After the first-instance verdict is announced, the defendant has the right to appeal.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tòa án sơ thẩm (noun phrase): Court of first instance.
  • Vụ án được đưa ra xét xử tại Tòa án sơ thẩm thành phố. (The case was brought to trial at the City Court of First Instance.)
• Xét xử sơ thẩm (verb phrase): To adjudicate at first instance.
• Phúc thẩm (verb/adjective): To hear on appeal; appellate.
• Giám đốc thẩm (verb/adjective): To review in cassation; cassational.

Synonyms

• Xét xử lần đầu: To try for the first time.
• Xét xử ở cấp thứ nhất: To adjudicate at the first level.

Related Phrases (Legal Terminology)

• Kháng cáo bản án sơ thẩm: To appeal a first-instance judgment.
  • Luật sư khuyên bị cáo nên kháng cáo bản án sơ thẩm. (The lawyer advised the defendant to appeal the first-instance judgment.)
• Hồ sơ vụ án sơ thẩm: The case file from the first-instance trial.

verb

1. to hear and try first case