The Legal System
Sources of the Law
The Court System
Local Courts
State Trial Courts
State Appellate Courts
State Supreme Courts
U.S. District Courts
U.S. Appellate Courts
U.S. Supreme Court
Other Federal Courts
Administrative Courts and Hearings
Selecting a Lawyer
Alternatives to Trial
Civil Cases
Filing a Lawsuit
Trials
Collecting Judgments
Causes of Action
State Supreme Courts
If a litigant loses at the appellate court level, she may appeal to the state's highest, or supreme, court. This is the last opportunity she has to change the outcome of the trial. State supreme courts are the final court of appeal in that state.
There are many names used for state supreme courts, including Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Supreme Judicial Court.
Sidebar: In cases where a constitutional issue is involved, an appeal to the federal court of appeals may be permitted.