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trial court
noun
: the court before which issues of fact and law are first determined as distinguished from an appellate court
Examples of trial court in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The trial court held Markel’s claims were barred by the ministerial exception.
—Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025
The Supreme Court tied up Smith’s case for months before granting former presidents broad immunity from prosecution and sending the case back to the trial court.
—Colleen Long, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
And no Georgia court has ever reversed a trial court's order declining to disqualify a prosecutor based solely on an appearance of impropriety.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
There are 11 different trial courts and multiple levels of appellate courts.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1889, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near trial court
Cite this Entry
“Trial court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trial%20court. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Legal Definition
trial court
noun
: the court before which issues of fact and law are tried and first determined as distinguished from an appellate court
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for trial court
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