appellate court

noun

Meaning

A judicial body empowered to review the decisions of lower courts to ensure that the law was applied correctly during the original trial.

Examples

  • The defense attorney filed an appeal, hoping the appellate court would find a procedural error in the initial sentencing.
  • Unlike trial courts, an appellate court does not hear new testimony or examine physical evidence from the crime scene.

Synonyms: appeals court, court of appeal, appellate tribunal