Which type of court has original jurisdiction?

Original jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to reviewing a case on appeal. Trial courts are the courts that typically hold original jurisdiction because they are the venues where evidence is presented, witnesses are called, and a verdict is reached.

In a trial court, a judge or jury evaluates the facts of the case and makes determinations based on the law as applied to those facts. This is where the legal process begins, making trial courts critical in the judicial system for the adjudication of both civil and criminal cases.

Other courts, such as appellate courts, do not have original jurisdiction. Instead, they review decisions made by trial courts, focusing on whether the law was applied correctly without re-examining the facts or hearing new evidence. Legislative courts, while they serve specific functions in government, do not fit the traditional mold of courts with original jurisdiction in the context of the judiciary. Traffic courts, although they handle specialized cases related to traffic violations, are often considered a type of trial court, but they are still limited in their jurisdiction to specific types of offenses rather than being a distinct category with broad original jurisdiction.