Okuzeka
Law vocabulary · Courts & Judges

Court of appeal

Meaning in law, with examples

nounCommon term

In law, court of appeal means: A court that reviews the decisions of lower courts when a party says the judge made a mistake, and can confirm, change or cancel those decisions.

In Turkish: istinaf mahkemesi, bölge adliye mahkemesi, üst mahkeme

How it is used

In England and Wales the Court of Appeal sits just below the Supreme Court. In the US federal system the equivalent courts are the 'courts of appeals', also called circuit courts. 'Appellate court' is the general term for any court of this kind.

Example sentences

  1. The Court of Appeal overturned the decision and ordered a new trial.

  2. We will ask the Court of Appeal to look again at how the judge read the contract.

Common collocations

  • appeal to the Court of Appeal
  • the Court of Appeal held
  • appellate court
  • Court of Appeal judges
  • appealTo ask a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court; also used as a noun for this request.
  • supreme courtThe highest court in a country or state, whose decisions on legal questions usually bind lower courts and cannot be appealed any further.
  • overturnTo officially cancel or reverse a decision of a lower court, so that it no longer has any effect.
  • upholdTo confirm that an earlier decision was correct, especially when a higher court refuses to change a lower court's judgment; also to defend a principle.
  • courtA place or institution where judges hear legal disputes and decide them according to the law; the word can also mean the judges themselves.

More terms: Courts & Judges

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.