A judicial tribunal duly constituted for the hearing and determination of cases. The word court comes from the Latin iurisdicitio, meaning “law-deciding authority.” Courts resolve all manner of legal matters including civil disputes (such as divorce, wills and estates and property disputes) and criminal cases. They also determine the constitutionality of laws, interpret legislation and regulate judicial practice. Courts are the central pillars of our democracy and uphold fundamental limitations on government. They protect minorities from the majority, uphold the rights of the poor and disenfranchised and embody notions of fair play. Without courts, even a primitive society could not survive.
The court system varies from country to country, but most have similar features. Judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for life terms. Supreme courts are the highest courts in a state. Other courts include trial and superior courts, some with specialized caseloads. In New York, for example, a Commercial Division of the Supreme Court was created to focus on commercial law cases in keeping with our role as the world capital of commerce, finance, media and other great businesses and activities.
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The sense of legitimacy that a court acquires over time depends on the perception that it is impartial and its decisions are grounded in the law, not ideology or politics. This is what distinguishes a court from other political institutions like legislatures, which are often viewed as partisan and self-serving.
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