Supreme Appellate Courts in United States

Practical Information

Note: Some of this information was last updated in 1982

There is only one supreme apellate court (in U.S. law) in each state. These courts are courts of last resort in their respective states. (In Oklahoma the Criminal Court of Appeals and in Texas the Court of Criminal Appeals are courts of last resort in criminal cases.) The jurisdiction of these courts is appellate (see apellate court (in U.S. law) ), their original jurisdiction, if any, being limited to the issuance of writs of mandamus (in U.S. law), certiorari (in U.S. law), habeas corpus (in U.S. law), and the like.

The highest court in 45 states is designated as the Supreme Court. The designations in the other 5 states are as follows:

Maine Supreme Judicial

Court

Maryland Court of Appeals

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

New York Court of Appeals

West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals

See american court system (in U.S. law); courts of intermediate review (in U.S. law); courts of records (in U.S. law); courts of special jurisdiction (in U.S. law); inferior courts (in U.S. law); superior courts (in U.S. law); appeal (in U.S. law) (Parties to).

What is Supreme Appellate Courts?

For a meaning of it, read Supreme Appellate Courts in the Legal Dictionary here. Browse and search more U.S. and international free legal definitions and legal terms related to Supreme Appellate Courts.

State Courts Supreme Appellate Courts

Introduction to Supreme Appellate Courts

Every state has a final appellate court. In most states these are called supreme courts, but in New York and Maryland they are known as the Court of Appeals. Oklahoma and Texas have two such courts, one for criminal and the other for civil appeals. The state supreme courts hear appeals mostly from intermediate appeals courts. Most supreme courts may choose which cases to review, and all have the final word on matters of state law-that is, common law, statutes, and the state constitution. Not even the U.S. Supreme Court may overturn their decisions about what the state constitution or state law means, although it may rule against the state if it concludes that a state law or constitutional provision conflicts with the U.S. Constitution. State supreme courts typically consist of between five and nine members who rule as a panel.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

Information about Supreme Appellate Courts in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Supreme Appellate Courts

In this Section

Courts in the United States

Courts Development, Federal Courts, District Courts, Courts of Appeals, Supreme Court, Courts of Special Jurisdiction, Territorial Courts, State Courts, Courts of Limited Jurisdiction, Courts of General Jurisdiction, Intermediate Appellate Courts, Supreme Appellate Courts, Courts Challanges, Courts of Appeals

Supreme Appellate Courts