No matter the size or structure of our judicial system, nearly all cases begin in trial court, also known as a lower court or court of first instance. Likewise, most decisions made by trial court judges are subject to review by higher courts, such as appellate or Supreme courts. This system is designed to allow for multiple court reviews of the same case, ensuring justice is served.
Trial courts may be either jury trials, which involve citizens to weigh in on facts of the case, or bench trials, which involve only a judge’s decision determining guilt or innocence. In either case, it is the jurisdiction of trial courts to settle cases and, if necessary, impose sentences.
Structure of Trial Court
In the United States, trial courts take on varying numbers of cases, depending on the location and volume of legal claims in the area. In or around major cities, courts may see hundreds of cases each day. Elsewhere, the number of cases may be much lower.
These courts may differ in their makeup, depending on the volume of cases they handle. While small, more rural-based courts may have only a single judge, larger courts may have multiple judges presiding over the cases brought before them.
An Example: OJ Simpson’s 1995 Trial
One famous example of a trial court case is the 1995 trial of OJ Simpson, the former NFL star accused of murder. In this case, OJ Simpson’s trial was heard before a jury of twelve in California’s Superior Court. The case was presided over by Judge Lance Ito, with the jury ultimately ruling Simpson not guilty of the charges. This decision was later appealed to a higher court, although the verdict remains the same.