Legal Definitions - appellate court

An appellate court is a higher court that reviews and hears appeals from legal cases that have already been decided in a lower court. These courts are present at both the state and federal levels and consist of a panel of judges without a jury.

For example, if a person is convicted of a crime in a trial court, they can appeal the decision to an appellate court. The appellate court will review the case to determine if any errors were made during the trial that may have affected the outcome. If the appellate court finds an error, they may overturn the decision and send the case back to the lower court for a new trial.

On the federal level, there are 13 appeals courts, and each state has its own appeals court system, some of which include intermediate appellate courts. These courts play an essential role in ensuring that the legal system operates fairly and justly.