This intermediate court has 16 judges serving in three geographical divisions who sit in panels of three to decide cases brought before them. The Supreme Court has almost total discretion in determining which cases it will hear and decide, except that death penalty cases are automatically reviewed. A few cases involving new or important questions of law are accepted by the Supreme Court directly from superior court. Others are received on Petition for Review after having been decided by the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court each year publishes nearly 150 final opinions, each decision representing lengthy and thorough research and consideration by all nine members of the court, working both together and individually.
Trial courts determine factual disputes within a framework of rules of law.
Questions of fact decided at trial are not redetermined by an appellate court. A jury has listened to the testimony of witnesses, heard and seen the evidence, and reached its decision with instructions from the judge as to the law that must be applied to the facts. A trial court judge operating without a jury decides both the law and the facts. Prepared in advance, the nine justices gather for a public hearing in the courtroom with the lawyers, to hear their final arguments and perhaps to question them concerning the problems at issue. A private conference of the justices follows, and the opinion is assigned for writing.