What is the Difference Between Original Jurisdiction and Appellate Jurisdiction?

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The difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction lies in the stage of the legal process at which a court has the authority to hear a case.

Original Jurisdiction:

  • Original jurisdiction is the right of a court to hear a case for the first time.
  • It is the court's power to hear a trial and accept evidence.
  • A court exercising original jurisdiction is the first court to hear the case.
  • In some cases, a court may have both original and appellate jurisdiction.

Appellate Jurisdiction:

  • Appellate jurisdiction means that the court has the authority to review the decisions of lower courts.
  • It is the court's power to hear an appeal and review the trial for error.
  • A court exercising appellate jurisdiction has the right to hear an appeal from a court with original jurisdiction.
  • Appellate courts do not have an entirely new trial to decide the issue; instead, they decide whether the lower court made any errors.

In summary, original jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to hear a case for the first time and accept evidence, while appellate jurisdiction refers to a court's authority to review the decisions of lower courts for any errors made during the trial process.

Comparative Table: Original Jurisdiction vs Appellate Jurisdiction

Here is a table comparing the differences between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction:

Feature Original Jurisdiction Appellate Jurisdiction
Definition Original jurisdiction refers to the power of a court to hear a case for the first time. Appellate jurisdiction refers to the power of a court to review the decisions of lower courts.
Role of the Court The original jurisdiction court is the first and only court to hear the case. Appellate courts review decisions from other courts.
Decision-Making Process In original jurisdiction cases, the court hears the case and makes a decision. Appellate courts review the decisions of lower courts and decide whether the lower court made the correct decision.
Cases Heard Original jurisdiction courts hear cases that originate in their court. Appellate jurisdiction courts hear cases that have been appealed from lower courts.

Some courts have both original and appellate jurisdiction, meaning they can hear cases for the first time and review decisions from lower courts.