Lower Court Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Lower Court.

Lower Court (noun)

  1. A court with less power or authority than some other courts, particularly in referring to those courts below an appeals court.
  2. The primary level where cases are first heard and decisions are made; these decisions can be appealed or reviewed by higher courts, also known as appellate courts.
  3. These courts do not have the final say and their verdicts can be overturned by an upper court. For example, a state court might be a lower court in relation to the Supreme Court.