A case that reaches the Supreme Court of Georgia will MOST LIKELY have already been heard by the
a
State Court and then the Superior Court.
b
Superior Court and then the State Court.
c
Superior Court and then the Court of Appeals.
d
Court of Appeals and then the Superior Court.
To determine the correct answer, let's first understand the sequence of Georgia's court system.
1. State Court: At the beginning of the process, most cases are heard in the State Court. This is often where initial hearings and trials take place, especially for lower-level offenses or civil matters.
2. Superior Court: If a party is dissatisfied with the ruling or outcome at the State Court, they can appeal to the Superior Court. The Superior Court has broader jurisdiction and can handle more serious criminal cases, as well as civil matters involving larger sums of money.
3. Court of Appeals: If a party disagrees with the decision made by the Superior Court, they can seek further review by appealing to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals reviews cases from both the State Court and the Superior Court, focusing on questions of law rather than reevaluating the facts of the case.
4. Supreme Court of Georgia: The final level of appeal in Georgia's court system is the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court primarily reviews cases that involve constitutional issues, settle conflicts among lower courts, or are of significant public importance. The Supreme Court has the authority to overturn decisions made in lower courts.
Based on this understanding, the correct answer to the question is:
c) Superior Court and then the Court of Appeals.
Once a case has been heard by the Superior Court and a party is unsatisfied with the outcome, they can appeal to the Court of Appeals. If the case is still unresolved or the parties wish to further appeal, it may then reach the Supreme Court of Georgia.