Appellate jurisdiction

Definition

Appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority of a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court. This type of jurisdiction is crucial in the judicial system as it ensures that errors made in lower courts can be corrected, maintaining the integrity of the legal process. Courts with appellate jurisdiction do not conduct new trials but rather examine the records from the lower court to determine if legal errors were made.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Appellate jurisdiction allows higher courts to review decisions made by lower courts to ensure justice and correct legal mistakes.
2. In the federal system, there are 13 Courts of Appeals that handle appeals from district courts and some federal regulatory agencies.
3. The Supreme Court, as the highest court in the U.S., has ultimate appellate jurisdiction, meaning its decisions are final and cannot be appealed further.
4. Cases taken under appellate jurisdiction generally focus on issues of law rather than issues of fact, which means they don't hold new trials.
5. Parties seeking appellate review typically file a petition for a writ of certiorari to request that a higher court hear their case.

Review Questions

• What distinguishes appellate jurisdiction from original jurisdiction in the context of how courts operate?
  • Appellate jurisdiction is different from original jurisdiction in that it involves reviewing cases that have already been decided in lower courts, focusing specifically on legal errors rather than re-examining factual evidence. Original jurisdiction, on the other hand, refers to a court's power to hear a case for the first time, where both sides present their evidence and arguments. Understanding this distinction is key to grasping how different levels of courts function within the judicial system.
• How does the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction influence its role within the federal judiciary?
  • The Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction greatly influences its role as the highest court in the federal judiciary by allowing it to review significant legal issues from lower courts. This means that the Supreme Court can set precedents that shape American law and resolve discrepancies in legal interpretations among different circuit courts. By selecting cases carefully, often through petitions for writs of certiorari, it can address critical issues that affect large segments of society, thus playing a pivotal role in upholding justice.
• Evaluate the impact of appellate jurisdiction on the principle of checks and balances within the American judicial system.
  • Appellate jurisdiction plays a vital role in maintaining checks and balances within the American judicial system by ensuring that lower court decisions can be scrutinized and corrected if necessary. This oversight helps prevent arbitrary rulings and promotes consistency in legal interpretations across different jurisdictions. By allowing higher courts to review and overturn decisions made by lower courts, appellate jurisdiction contributes to a more equitable legal system where laws are applied uniformly, thereby reinforcing the principle of justice under law.

Related terms

original jurisdiction: The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, which typically involves both civil and criminal cases.

Supreme Court: The highest federal court in the United States, which has both original and appellate jurisdiction, with the power to review decisions made by lower courts.

court of appeals: A court that hears appeals from lower courts, primarily focusing on reviewing legal issues rather than re-examining factual evidence.