In trial courts , evidence to determine the facts of a case is heard by a single judge or by a judge and jury, and a verdict or judgement is reached based on the evidence and their understanding of the law that applies.
Appellate courts review the work of the trial courts in cases that are appealed.
Instead, a panel of judges hears arguments from opposing attorneys and reviews the lower court's record to determine whether there were errors serious enough to destroy the validity of the trial and justify overturning the lower court's original decision. The municipal courts handle all arraignments and preliminary hearings for criminal cases and try all misdemeanor cases. Felony cases go the county superior court for trial. Other civil matters such as child custody, divorce, probate, real estate, and juvenile cases are also filed in superior courts. The seven-member Supreme Court , the state's highest court, is an appellate court.