Question

Compare and contrast Trial and Appellate Courts?

Answer 1

Federal judicial system has these two types of courts – trial court, and appellate court.

Trial court:

The lowest level of court where a case is filed in front of a jury (but not a judge) is trial court. In this court, factual and legal disputes of a case are resolved through evidences and circumstances. Suppose a patient claims that the doctor was negligent while doing his surgery – the jury may ask for evidence for proving it. Jury reviews all credibility and give verdict accordingly.

Appellate court:

There may not be win-win situation for both the parties in a lawsuit – the jury has to give verdict by favouring a particular side. The party who loses can appeal in the appellate court. This court is higher than trail court in terms of power and act. There is judge in this court instead of jury. The judge reviews the trial verdict if there is any mistake done by the jury; in the process of doing so he/she can go through all documents and information but hardly takes any new evidence directly.