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Simple English definitions for legal terms
lower court
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A quick definition of lower court:
A lower court is a court that is not as important as another court. There are two types of lower courts: trial courts and intermediate appellate courts. These courts make decisions that can be reviewed or appealed to a higher court. For example, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a lower court compared to the U.S. Supreme Court. Some lower courts only handle certain types of cases.
A more thorough explanation:
A lower court is a court that is considered inferior to another court. These courts typically include trial courts and intermediate appellate courts. The decisions made by these courts are subject to review or appeal by a higher (appellate) court.
For example, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considered a lower court in comparison to the U.S. Supreme Court. This means that any decisions made by the Circuit Court of Appeals can be reviewed or appealed by the Supreme Court.
Lower courts may also have limited jurisdiction, meaning they only have the authority to hear certain types of cases. For instance, a small claims court is a type of lower court that only handles cases involving small amounts of money.
Overall, lower courts play an important role in the judicial system by handling a large volume of cases and providing a first level of review for legal disputes.