Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Court of Criminal Appeals: A court that reviews decisions made in criminal cases. It is either an intermediate appellate court for each armed service or the highest appellate court in some states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, that hears criminal cases.
A Court of Criminal Appeals is a type of court that serves two different purposes depending on the jurisdiction. In some states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, it is the highest court that hears criminal cases. In the military justice system, it is an intermediate appellate court that reviews court-martial decisions.
John was convicted of a crime in Texas and appealed his case to the Court of Criminal Appeals. This court reviewed his case and either upheld the conviction or overturned it.
In the military justice system, a Court of Criminal Appeals is established for each armed service. For example, the Army Court of Criminal Appeals reviews court-martial decisions for the Army. If a soldier is convicted of a crime, they can appeal their case to this court.
These examples illustrate how a Court of Criminal Appeals functions in different jurisdictions. In both cases, it serves as a higher court that reviews decisions made in lower courts. Its purpose is to ensure that justice is served and that the law is applied correctly.