lower court

A lower court is a court that is subordinate to another court. Lower courts typically include trial courts and intermediate appellate courts, whose decisions may be reviewed or appealed to a higher appellate court. For example, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals are lower courts in relation to the U.S. Supreme Court. When appealed, a lower court’s judgment could be affirmed, reversed, or remanded.

[Last reviewed in September of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team] 

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• THE LEGAL PROCESS
• appellate procedure
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