<P> An appellate court , commonly called an appeals court , court of appeals ( American English ) , appeal court ( British English ) , court of second instance or second instance court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal . In most jurisdictions , the court system is divided into at least three levels : the trial court , which initially hears cases and reviews evidence and testimony to determine the facts of the case ; at least one intermediate appellate court ; and a supreme court ( or court of last resort ) which primarily reviews the decisions of the intermediate courts . A jurisdiction 's supreme court is that jurisdiction 's highest appellate court . Appellate courts nationwide can operate under varying rules . </P>
<P> An appellate court , commonly called an appeals court , court of appeals ( American English ) , appeal court ( British English ) , court of second instance or second instance court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal . In most jurisdictions , the court system is divided into at least three levels : the trial court , which initially hears cases and reviews evidence and testimony to determine the facts of the case ; at least one intermediate appellate court ; and a supreme court ( or court of last resort ) which primarily reviews the decisions of the intermediate courts . A jurisdiction 's supreme court is that jurisdiction 's highest appellate court . Appellate courts nationwide can operate under varying rules . </P>
what level of courts handle reviews of lower court decisions
what level of courts handle reviews of lower court decisions
appellate court
appellate court