Two Types of Courts

Trial Court

• One judge conducts the trial.
  
  
• Jury or single judge decides the case.
  
  
• Lawyers present evidence. Defendants may represent themselves.
  
  
• Witnesses swear to tell the truth and then answer questions from lawyers.
  
  
• It is the first court to decide who should win in a dispute.
  
  
• It is the first court to decide whether or not a defendant is guilty.

Appellate Court

• A panel of several judges listens to and decides the case.
  
  
• It hears the cases that have been decided in a lower court or by an agency.
  
  
• No evidence is presented.
  
  
• Lawyers only make arguments.
  
  
• This court gives its decision in a written opinion, or order.
  
  
• All the trial courts under it must follow the appellate court’s decisions.

**The United States Supreme Court
has the final say; there is no appeal
of a Supreme Court ruling. **