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Law vocabulary · Courts & Judges

Supreme court

Meaning in law, with examples

nounCommon term

In law, supreme court means: The highest court in a country or state, whose decisions on legal questions usually bind lower courts and cannot be appealed any further.

In Turkish: yüksek mahkeme, Yargıtay

How it is used

Capitalised when it names a specific court: the UK Supreme Court, the US Supreme Court. Cases 'go up to' or 'reach' the Supreme Court, which hears only a small number of appeals each year. Careful: in New York State the 'Supreme Court' is actually a trial-level court.

Example sentences

  1. The case could take another two years if it goes to the Supreme Court.

  2. The Supreme Court refused permission to appeal, so the judgment is final.

Common collocations

  • appeal to the Supreme Court
  • Supreme Court ruling
  • Supreme Court justice
  • reach the Supreme 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.
  • courtA place or institution where judges hear legal disputes and decide them according to the law; the word can also mean the judges themselves.
  • appealTo ask a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court; also used as a noun for this request.
  • precedentAn earlier court decision that judges use as an example or a rule when they decide later cases with similar facts or legal questions.
  • judgmentThe final decision of a court in a case, together with the reasons the judge gives for it; also the written document that contains this decision.

More terms: Courts & Judges

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