Courts of appeals

Definition

Courts of appeals are intermediate appellate courts within the U.S. judicial system that primarily review decisions made by lower district courts. These courts do not conduct trials or hear new evidence; instead, they assess whether the law was applied correctly in prior cases and determine if any legal errors were made that could affect the outcome of a case.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. There are 13 federal courts of appeals, which are divided into geographic circuits covering different regions of the United States.
2. The main function of courts of appeals is to hear appeals on legal issues rather than factual disputes, meaning they focus on how laws were interpreted and applied in lower court cases.
3. Most cases that reach the courts of appeals do not result in oral arguments; instead, they are decided based on written briefs submitted by attorneys.
4. The decisions made by courts of appeals can set binding precedents for lower courts within their circuit, influencing future cases.
5. Courts of appeals can affirm, reverse, or remand cases back to lower courts for further proceedings, thereby significantly impacting the judicial process.

Review Questions

• How do courts of appeals differ from district courts in terms of their functions and processes?
  • Courts of appeals differ from district courts primarily in that they do not conduct trials or hear new evidence. Instead, their role is to review decisions made by district courts to ensure that the law was correctly applied. While district courts are where cases are initially tried and evidence is presented, appellate courts focus on examining legal arguments made in written briefs to determine if any errors occurred that could change the outcome.
• What role do the decisions made by courts of appeals play in shaping legal precedents and guiding lower courts?
  • The decisions made by courts of appeals are crucial for establishing legal precedents that lower courts must follow within their jurisdiction. When an appellate court issues a ruling, it interprets the law and clarifies its application in specific circumstances. This sets a standard for how similar cases should be handled in the future, ensuring consistency and stability within the judicial system across different regions.
• Evaluate the impact of the structure and function of the U.S. court system, specifically regarding how courts of appeals influence access to justice.
  • The structure and function of the U.S. court system, particularly through the role of courts of appeals, significantly influence access to justice. By serving as an intermediate step in the judicial process, they allow individuals to seek redress when they believe a lower court has made an error in interpreting the law. This appellate layer helps ensure that legal standards are applied fairly and consistently, which can help protect individual rights and foster public confidence in the legal system overall.

Related terms

U.S. Supreme Court: The highest court in the United States, which has the ultimate appellate jurisdiction and can review decisions from the courts of appeals.

District Courts:

The general trial courts of the United States federal court system where cases are first filed and heard before potentially being appealed to the courts of appeals.

Judicial Review: The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution, which is a key function of the appellate process.