higher court

[/ˈhaɪər kɔːrt/]
nounpl: higher courts
tribunal superior
1. A court of law that has authority to hear appeals from lower courts and review their decisions
The defendant appealed the decision to a higher court.
O réu recorreu da decisão para um tribunal superior.
2. A court that has jurisdiction over cases of greater importance or complexity than lower courts
The case was escalated to a higher court due to its constitutional implications.
O caso foi escalado para um tribunal superior devido às suas implicações constitucionais.
In both Brazilian and American legal systems, the concept of higher courts is fundamental to the judicial hierarchy. In Brazil, the judicial system includes state courts (tribunais de justiça) and federal courts (tribunais federais) at intermediate levels, with the Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal) at the apex. In the USA, appeals typically go through circuit courts before potentially reaching the Supreme Court. This terminology is essential in legal discourse in both countries.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
appellate courtcourt of appealssuperior courtupper court
Antonyms / Antônimos
lower courttrial courtcourt of first instance

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
tribunal superior
Standard term used throughout Brazil for courts above first instance
Rio de Janeiro
tribunal superior
Commonly used in legal practice
São Paulo
tribunal superior / corte superior
Both terms are used in legal contexts
Portugal
tribunal superior / corte superior
Portuguese legal system uses 'Tribunal de Relação' and 'Supremo Tribunal de Justiça'

Related Words

appellate jurisdictionjudicial hierarchycourt systemappealverdictjurisdiction

Related Idioms & Phrases

take it to a higher court
appeal to a higher court
higher court ruling
higher court decision
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