What is Appellate Jurisdiction?
Appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority of a higher court to review decisions made by lower courts. Appellate courts do not hold trials or hear new evidence but rather review the legal arguments and decisions made in the lower court to ensure they were correctly applied. This process allows for the correction of errors and the interpretation of laws to ensure fairness and justice.
Examples of Appellate Jurisdiction
One example of appellate jurisdiction is when a party appeals a decision made in a civil or criminal case to a higher court. The appellate court will review the arguments presented by both parties and the legal reasoning used by the lower court to determine if the decision was correct or if it should be overturned.
Case Studies
In the landmark case of Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court of the United States exercised its appellate jurisdiction to review the conviction of Ernesto Miranda. The court overturned Miranda’s conviction on the grounds that his Fifth Amendment rights had been violated during police interrogation. This case established the now-famous Miranda rights that protect individuals from self-incrimination.
Statistics on Appellate Jurisdiction
- In the United States, there are 13 federal appellate courts, each with its own jurisdiction over a specific geographic area.
- According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the number of appeals filed in federal courts has been steadily increasing over the past decade.
