Court

The branch of government which is responsible for the resolution of disputes arising under the laws of the government. A court system is usually divided into various parts which specialize in hearing different types of cases. Trial courts are responsible for receiving evidence and determining the application of the law to facts which it finds. Trial courts are usually divided into civil courts, which hear disputes arising under the common law and civil statutes, criminal courts which hear prosecutions under the criminal laws, matrimonial courts which hear divorce proceedings, and surrogate's courts which hear proceedings regarding the estates of deceased and incompetent persons. Appellate courts review the decisions of trial courts to determine whether the trial court made an error of law in deciding the case. Appellate courts are frequently divided into intermediate appellate courts to which a party may always appeal, and a supreme appellate court, which has discretion over which cases it chooses to hear. James & Hazard, Civil Procedure §1.15 (5th ed. 2001). See de facto [defacto court]; district court; federal courts; inferior court; international court of justice; juvenile courts; kangaroo court; moot court; open court.See also probate [probate court]; small claims court; supreme court; tax court; term of court; territorial court; trial court.