Objectives of Appellate Jurisdiction
- To review lower court decisions for errors or legal inconsistencies: Appellate courts are tasked with reviewing the decisions and actions of lower courts to ensure that they are based on a correct interpretation and application of the law.
- To correct errors or injustices that may have occurred in lower court decisions: The appellate process provides a mechanism for correcting errors or injustices that may have occurred in lower court decisions. This helps to ensure that the legal system is fair and just for all parties involved.
- To establish legal precedents and interpretations of the law: The appellate process helps to establish legal precedents and interpretations of the law through the decisions of appellate courts. These decisions provide guidance for future cases and help to ensure consistency in the legal system.
- To ensure that individual rights and liberties are protected: The appellate process helps to protect the rights and liberties of individuals by providing a mechanism for challenging lower court decisions that may be unconstitutional or unjust.
- To provide guidance to lower courts: The appellate court decisions provide guidance to the lower courts on how to interpret and apply the law in similar cases, thus contributing to a fair and just legal system.
- To maintain the integrity of the legal system: The appellate process is an important component in the maintenance of the integrity of the legal system. It assures that the laws are correctly applied, that the rights of all parties are protected, and that the legal system is fair and just.
- To provide an opportunity for the legal system to review and improve itself: The appellate process provides an opportunity for the legal system to review and improve itself by identifying and correcting any issues or shortcomings in the application of the law. This can lead to necessary reforms and improvements in the legal system to ensure that it is fair and just for all parties involved.
- To ensure that legal decisions align with the constitutional principles: The appellate process also aims to ensure that the legal decisions align with the constitutional principles and the fundamental values of the society, as well as to ensure that the laws are consistent with the constitution and the human rights principles.
- To provide an opportunity for the parties to seek redress: The appellate process also provides an opportunity for the parties to seek redress and to have a higher court review their case, whether it is the Supreme Court or the High Court\
- To provide an opportunity for the legal system to adapt to the changing societal needs: The appellate process also provides an opportunity for the legal system to adapt to the changing societal needs by providing a mechanism for the courts to review and interpret laws in light of new developments and to ensure that the laws remain relevant and responsive to the society’s needs.
What is appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
Appellate jurisdiction refers to the power of a higher court to review and potentially overturn the decisions made by lower courts. This means that when a case is heard by a lower court, the parties involved have the right to appeal the decision to a higher court if they believe that an error was made or that the law was applied incorrectly. The higher court, in this case, is the appellate court.
Appellate jurisdiction is distinct from original jurisdiction, which refers to the power of a court to hear a case for the first time. Lower courts usually have original jurisdiction, while higher courts usually have appellate jurisdiction.
The appellate process serves as an important check and balance on the power of lower courts and helps to ensure consistency and fairness in the legal system. It also plays a crucial role in interpreting and shaping the law through the decisions of the appellate court, which can have a lasting impact on legal principles and precedents.