Legal Definitions - court of error

A court of error refers to a higher court that has the authority to review the decisions and proceedings of a lower court to determine if any legal mistakes or "errors" were made during the original trial or hearing. Its primary function is not to retry the case from scratch, but rather to examine the record for procedural irregularities, misinterpretations of law, or abuses of discretion by the lower court.

Historically, specific courts in England, such as the Court of Exchequer Chamber and the House of Lords, were designated as courts of error for this purpose before modern appellate systems were established.

Here are some examples illustrating the function of a court of error:

• Example 1: Contract Dispute Appeal

  A small construction firm, BuildRight Co., sued a client for unpaid services in a local trial court. The trial judge ruled in favor of the client, stating that BuildRight Co. had not fully completed the work according to the contract's specifications. BuildRight Co. believes the judge misinterpreted a key clause in the contract regarding project completion milestones and misapplied relevant state contract law. They decide to file an appeal with the state's intermediate appellate court.

  Explanation: In this situation, the state's intermediate appellate court acts as a court of error. Its role is to review the trial court's decision, specifically examining whether the trial judge made a legal error in interpreting the contract or applying the law. It will not hear new evidence or testimony but will scrutinize the legal reasoning and procedures of the lower court based on the existing record.

• Example 2: Criminal Sentencing Review

  A defendant, Ms. Chen, was convicted of a non-violent offense in a municipal court and received a sentence that her attorney believes exceeds the legal maximum allowed for that particular crime under state guidelines. Her attorney files an appeal with the state's higher court, arguing that the sentencing judge committed a legal error by imposing an unlawful sentence.

  Explanation: Here, the state's higher court functions as a court of error. It will review the municipal court's sentencing decision to determine if the judge made a legal mistake by exceeding statutory limits or misapplying sentencing guidelines. If the higher court finds a significant legal error in the sentencing, it could modify the sentence or send the case back to the lower court for resentencing.

• Example 3: Zoning Board Decision Challenge

  A property owner applied for a variance to build an addition to their home, but the local zoning board denied the request. The owner believes the zoning board's decision was arbitrary and capricious, and that they did not follow their own established procedures for evaluating variance applications. The owner files a petition for review in a state superior court.

  Explanation: The state superior court, in this context, acts as a court of error. It is reviewing the decision of the zoning board (which functions as a lower tribunal) to determine if the board committed legal or procedural errors. The court will assess whether the board adhered to its statutory authority, followed due process, and correctly applied its own regulations, rather than re-evaluating the factual merits of the variance application itself.