trial court

(noun)

a tribunal established for the administration of justice, in which disputing parties come together to present information before a jury or judge that will decide the outcome of the case

Related Terms

Examples of trial court in the following topics:

  • U.S. Court of Appeals

    • The U.S. courts of appeals review the decisions made in trial courts and often serve as the final arbiter in federal cases.
    • These twelve circuit courts decide whether or not the district courts within their geographic jurisdiction have made an error in conducting a trial .
    • These judges base their decision on the record of the case established by the trial court or agency.
    • Meanwhile, the party defending against the appeal, known as the apellee, also presents a brief presenting reasons the trial court decision is correct or why an error made by the trial court is not significant enough to reverse the decision.
    • The court of appeals decision is usually the final word in the case unless it sends the case back to the trial court for additional proceedings.

  • U.S. District Courts

    • The United States district courts are the trial courts within the U.S. federal court system.
    • The U.S. district courts are responsible for holding general trials for civil and criminal cases.
    • Most defendants will plead guilty at this point instead of going to trial.
    • Those defendants who plead not guilty will be scheduled to receive a later trial.
    • While district courts are the primary trial courts within the U.S., two special trial courts exist outside of the district court system.

  • Basic Judicial Requirements

    • In federal legislation, regulations governing the "courts of the United States" only refer to the courts of the United States government, and not the courts of the individual states.
    • In practice, however, every state has adopted a division of its judiciary into at least two levels, and almost every state has three levels, with trial courts hearing cases which may be reviewed by appellate courts, and finally by a state supreme court.
    • State courts may have different names and organization; trial courts may be called "courts of common plea" and appellate courts "superior courts" or "commonwealth courts. " State courts hear about 98% of litigation; most states have special jurisdiction courts, which typically handle minor disputes such as traffic citations, and general jurisdiction courts, which handle more serious disputes.
    • The trial courts are U.S. district courts, followed by United States courts of appeals and then the Supreme Court of the United States.
    • Identify the type and structure of courts that make up the U.S. federal court system

  • Establishing Justice

    • State courts, which try 98% of litigation, may have different names and organization; trial courts may be called "courts of common plea", appellate courts "superior courts" or "commonwealth courts. "
    • It usually consists of a court of final appeal, together with lower courts.
    • In the United States court system, the Supreme Court is the final authority on the interpretation of the federal Constitution and all statutes and regulations created pursuant to it, as well as the constitutionality of the various state laws; in the U.S. federal court system, federal cases are tried in trial courts, known as the U.S. district courts, followed by appellate courts and then the Supreme Court.
    • State courts, which try 98% of litigation, may have different names and organization; trial courts may be called "courts of common plea," and appellate courts may be "superior courts" or "commonwealth courts. " The judicial system, whether state or federal, begins with a court of first instance, is appealed to an appellate court, and then ends at the court of last resort.
    • The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States .

  • Types of Courts

    • The federal court system has three levels: district courts, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court.
    • The federal court system is divided into three levels: the first and lowest level is the United States district courts, the second, intermediate level is the court of appeals, and the Supreme Court is considered the highest court in the United States.
    • The United States district courts are the general federal trial courts, although in many cases Congress has passed statutes which divert original jurisdiction to these specialized courts or to administrative law judges (ALJs).
    • The United States courts of appeals are the federal intermediate appellate courts.
    • The highest court is the Supreme Court of the United States, which is considered the court of last resort .

  • The Judicial Branch

    • It consists of a court of final appeal in addition to lower courts.
    • In the US federal court system, federal cases are tried in trial courts, known as the US district courts, followed by appellate courts and then the Supreme Court.
    • Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States.
    • The United States courts of appeals are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system .
    • The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system.

  • Courts

    • The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany.
    • The place where a court sits is known as a venue.
    • In most jurisdictions, the court system is divided into at least three levels: the trial court, which initially hears cases and reviews evidence and testimony to determine the facts of the case; at least one intermediate appellate court that hears an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal; and a supreme court, which primarily reviews the decisions of the intermediate courts.
    • For example, the Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany.
    • A trial at the Old Bailey in London, as drawn by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin, for Ackermann's Microcosm of London (1808-11).

  • The Nuremberg Trials

    • Nuremberg Military Tribunals (NMT); among the second set of trials were the Doctors' Trial and the Judges' Trial.
    • The legal basis for the jurisdiction of the court was defined by the Instrument of Surrender of Germany.
    • The Nuremberg Trials initiated a movement for the prompt establishment of a permanent international criminal court.
    • This movement was brought about because there were conflicting court methods between the German court system and the U.S. court system during the trials.
    • It also served as the model[citation needed] for the Eichmann trial and for present-day courts at The Hague, for trying crimes committed during the Balkan wars of the early 1990s, and at Arusha, for trying the people responsible for the genocide in Rwanda.

  • The Sixth Amendment

    • In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
    • Largest Murder Trial in the History of the United States.
    • Scene during Court Martial of 64 members of the 24th Infantry United States of America on trial for mutiny and murder of 17 people at Houston, Texas August 23, 1917.
    • Trial held in Gift Chapel Fort Sam Houston.
    • Trial started November 1, 1917, Brigadier General George K.

  • Article III

    • Article Three of the United States Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government, including the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.
    • The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.
    • In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction.
    • The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.
    • No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.