Understanding Appellate Courts: The Pillars of Justice Review
Appellate courts, often referred to as courts of appeals, are a fundamental part of the American judicial system designed to hear and review appeals from legal cases previously adjudicated in trial-level or other lower courts.
Individuals or entities that face unsatisfactory outcomes in these lower courts can file an appeal with an appellate court to have their decisions examined. If the appeal holds merit, the previous ruling might be reversed. Operating at both state and federal levels, appellate courts don’t use a jury, focusing instead on judging the application of the law by the lower courts.
Key Takeaways
- Appellate courts handle the review of legal decisions from lower courts.
- These courts exist at both state and federal levels and feature a panel of judges, known as justices, rather than a jury.
- The federal level boasts 13 appeals courts, while each state maintains its own appellate court system. Some states also include intermediate appellate courts.
How Appellate Courts Work
Appellate courts meticulously review lower court decisions to ensure the proper application of the law. These institutions provide a path for those who’ve faced adverse judgments to have their cases reassessed. If a publicly traded company, for instance, loses a case, a negative judgment may harm their share price. An overturned appeal could cause shares to surge in response.
These courts evaluate the evidence and findings from the trial court to judge if there’s adequate support for the lower court’s decisions, ensuring the law was correctly applied. For cases of profound significance, the U.S. Supreme Court serves as the highest appellate court, which hears appeals that stand out due to their importance.
Appellate Courts vs. Supreme Courts
While appellate courts provide critical review mechanisms, supreme courts—both state and federal—hold superior in their scope and authority. The U.S. Supreme Court stands as the highest authority in America, where it provides final rulings on significant appeals, reviewing decisions made by the federal appellate courts.
At the federal level, there are 13 appellate courts, including 12 district courts and the Federal Circuit court. Multiple states incorporate intermediate appellate courts to manage the heavy caseload experienced by state supreme courts. 41 states currently have at least one of these intermediary levels.
Example of an Appellate Court Ruling
In summer 2020, ride-sharing giants Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. saw their shares rise after an appellate court delayed the enforcement of a new California law. This law necessitated the reclassification of many gig workers, including rideshare drivers, to employees. The delay provided the appellate court time to assess the appeal’s merit regarding a lower court’s affirmation on the law’s constitutionality.
Yet, by October 2020, the California First District Court of Appeals ruled affirming the law’s legality, making Uber and Lyft liable to treat their California drivers as employees, entitling them to benefits and wages. The U.S. Supreme Court and the U.K. Supreme Court later refused to consider further appeals, firmly endorsing the lower courts’ decisions.
This instance highlights the pivotal role of appellate courts in the judicial landscape, particularly concerning companies’ operational protocols and employee classifications.
Related Terms: Judiciary, Justices, Trial courts, Legal system, Supreme Court, Corporations.
References
- CNBC. “Appeals court grants Uber and Lyft a temporary reprieve following threats to shut down in California”. (Aug. 20, 2020).
- New York Times. “Appeals Court Says Uber and Lyft Must Treat California Drivers as Employees”. (Oct. 22, 2020).
- San Francisco Chronicle. “California Supreme Court rejects Uber, Lyft challenge to gig-work order”.
