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Law vocabulary · Courts & Judges

Court of first instance

Meaning in law, with examples

nounCommon term

In law, court of first instance means: The court where a case is first heard and decided on the facts and the law, before any appeal; often called the trial court.

In Turkish: ilk derece mahkemesi

How it is used

Common in civil law countries, EU texts and international writing: 'the court of first instance found that…'. Americans more often say 'trial court' or 'lower court'. 'At first instance' is a fixed phrase: 'the claim was dismissed at first instance'.

Example sentences

  1. The court of first instance rejected the claim, but the regional court reversed its decision.

  2. The case has been pending before the court of first instance for two years.

Common collocations

  • court of first instance
  • at first instance
  • first-instance judgment
  • first-instance court
  • court of appealA 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.
  • appealTo ask a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court; also used as a noun for this request.
  • magistrateA judicial officer who deals with less serious cases; in England and Wales usually a trained volunteer without a law degree, in the US a judge who assists federal district judges.
  • courtA place or institution where judges hear legal disputes and decide them according to the law; the word can also mean the judges themselves.
  • trialThe formal process in court where evidence is presented and a judge or jury decides the case, usually after weeks or months of preparation.

More terms: Courts & Judges

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