Legal Definitions - court of appeal(s)

A Court of Appeal(s) is a court that reviews decisions made by lower courts. Its primary role is not to conduct new trials or hear new evidence, but rather to examine whether legal errors were made during the original trial or previous appeal.

This term can refer to two main types of courts:

• An Intermediate Appellate Court:

  In most legal systems, both at the state and federal levels, a Court of Appeal(s) serves as the first level of appeal from a trial court. If a party in a lawsuit believes that a trial judge made a mistake in applying the law or conducting the proceedings, they can ask this court to review the decision. This court typically has the power to affirm the lower court's decision, reverse it, or send the case back for further proceedings. As a "court of record," it also has the authority to enforce its orders and can penalize lawyers who fail to follow its rules or directives, for instance, by imposing fines or other disciplinary actions.

• The Highest Court in Certain States:

  In a few states, such as New York, Maryland, and Virginia, the court named the "Court of Appeals" is actually the highest court in that state's judicial system. In these states, it functions similarly to a State Supreme Court, meaning its decisions are final on matters of state law and cannot be appealed further within the state system.

Examples:

• Example 1 (Intermediate Appellate Court - Reviewing a Trial Court Decision):

  A small business owner loses a contract dispute in a state trial court. They believe the judge misinterpreted a key clause in the contract, leading to an incorrect judgment. The business owner files an appeal with the state's Court of Appeals. This court will review the trial court's record, including transcripts and legal arguments, to determine if the trial judge made a legal error in interpreting the contract, rather than re-hearing witness testimony or introducing new evidence.

• Example 2 (Intermediate Appellate Court - Lawyer Conduct):

  A lawyer representing a client in an appeal before a federal circuit Court of Appeals repeatedly misses deadlines for filing legal briefs, despite receiving warnings from the court clerk. The Court of Appeals, exercising its authority as a court of record, could issue an order requiring the lawyer to pay a fine or even refer them for disciplinary action due to their willful neglect of court orders and procedural rules.

• Example 3 (Highest State Court):

  A complex environmental law case in New York involves a dispute over a state-issued permit. After going through a trial court and an intermediate appellate court, the losing party seeks a final review of the state law interpretation. The case would then be heard by the New York Court of Appeals. In New York, this court is the highest judicial authority for state law matters, and its decision on the environmental permit's legality would be final and binding within the state.