Only the Supreme Court Can Review the Decisions of District Courts

Florida's state government, like our national government, is composed of three branches:Judicial, Executive, and Legislative.

Article V of Florida'southward Constitution established the Judicial Co-operative, which is composed of trial and appellate courts.

TRIAL COURTS

The bulk of jury trials in Florida take identify before one gauge sitting as judge of the circuit court. The excursion courts are sometimes referred to as courts of full general jurisdiction, in recognition of the fact that nearly criminal and civil cases originate at this level.

In that location are ii tiers of trial courts: 67 county courts and 20 excursion courts.

• Circuit Courtroom Data
• County Court Information

APPELLATE COURTS

The purpose of Florida'due south District Courts of Appeal is to provide the opportunity for thoughtful review of decisions of lower tribunals by multi-judge panels. Commune Courts of Entreatment right harmful errors and ensure that decisions are consistent with our rights and liberties. This procedure contributes to the development, clarity, and consistency of the law.

There are also two tiers of appellate courts: the five District Courts of Entreatment and the Supreme Court of Florida.

Difference Betwixt Trial Courts & Appellate Courts
Trial Courts	Appellate Courts
i approximate jury lawyers present testify & witnesses most cases begin in trial courts	more one judge no jury focus on matters of law exercise not rehear/retry the instance

Things you may encounter in a trial court: I (1) judge, a jury, witnesses, lawyers, prosecutor, a defence force chaser, accused or parties to the example, clerk, court reporter, bailiff (security officer).

Click image to view PDF

Things you may see in an appellate courtroom: multiple judges, a clerk, courtroom security officers, lawyers.

Click image to view PDF

Understanding the difference between trial courts and appellate courts

Trial courts are the courts where cases starting time. In the trial court, both sides present evidence to show their version of what happened. Most of the evidence presented in the trial courtroom comes from witnesses (people who answer questions relating to the case) and exhibits (items and documents connected to the instance, such as pictures, clothes, weapons, papers, etc.). However, in the appellate courts, there are no witnesses, and noprove is presented. In appellate courts, the lawyers simply argue legal and policy issues earlier the judge or a group of judges. In the trial courts, the lawyers nowadays evidence and legal arguments to persuade the jury in a jury trial or the estimate in ademote trial.

The second difference between the 2 courts is the number of judges. In trial courts, there is one judge in the courtroom. That approximate decides what evidence can and cannot exist used and often decides the outcome of the example. In Florida, appeals are decided by more than than 1 judge. In eachDistrict Court of Appeal where, cases are heard in groups of three judges, and in theSupreme Court, there is one group of 7justices.

The last major deviation betwixt the trial courts and the appellate courts is the role of thejury. A jury is a group of citizens who listen to the facts and brand decisions about the example. A jury is sometimes used in trial courts to help decide the case. In a criminal trial, the jury decides whether a person isguilty or not guilty.

The biggest misunderstanding near the appellate courts is that they merely rehear or retry the case over again. Just the truth is that appellate courts do not rehear the facts of the case. Appellate courts focus onquestions of police, Non on questions of facts like the trial courts. The appellate judges want to know whether the law was applied accurately.

The appellate court overrules a trial court decision only if a very important legal error was made in the trial court. In some cases, the appellate court judges might believe that the outcome of the trial courtroom should have been different, just if no legal errors were fabricated, they volition non overrule the lower court. The appellate judges make their decisions based only on legal arguments of how the law should be practical and interpreted.

Understanding the difference between criminal v. civil cases

A criminal trial involves the government (the state of Florida, for example) bringing charges against someone who committed a crime, such equally a robbery, murder, or drunk driving.

In a civil trial, the jury decides whether a person isliable (legally responsible for damages) or not liable (not responsible). Individuals or companies who cannot settle a dispute file a document chosen acomplaint to start a civil trial. Divorce, auto accidents, and traffic violations are some of the most common types of ceremonious cases.

In that location can exist a jury in either a civil or criminal trial. Even so, at that place is no jury in the appellate courts. Appellate judges make up one's mind the effect of allappeals.

DOWNLOADABLE GRAPHICS

Graphics can be downloaded using "Relieve As" or click the paradigm for a PDF version.

TRIAL COURT JUDICIAL CIRCUITS IN FLORIDA (20)	District COURTS OF Appeal IN FLORIDA (5)

barnestharbooked53.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/About-the-Court/Educational-Resources/Understanding-the-Judicial-Branch

Share this post