Istinaf

Istinaf refers to the Court of Appeal system in Turkey, commonly known as Istinaf Mahkemeleri. It is an intermediate appellate tier established as part of the judicial reforms in the 2010s to handle appeals from decisions of first‑instance courts in civil and criminal matters. The word istinaf in Turkish conveys the idea of reconsideration or appeal, and the Istinaf courts sit between the initial trial courts and the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay).

Historically, Istinaf was introduced to reorganize the Turkish judiciary and to alleviate the workload of the Court of Cassation while providing more accessible and specialized appellate review. The Istinaf Courts operate at regional levels and hear appeals against judgments issued by first‑instance courts, including civil and criminal cases. They function within the three‑tier structure of the judiciary, alongside first‑instance courts and the Yargıtay, and often work with formal panels of judges to review lower court decisions.

Procedurally, an appeal to Istinaf typically argues that a legal standard, procedural rule, or, in some jurisdictions, certain aspects of the trial’s factual assessment were misapplied. The Istinaf rulings can overturn, modify, or return cases for retrial, and most of their decisions may be subject to further review by the Court of Cassation on narrower grounds of law and procedure. The reform aims to improve consistency, efficiency, and access to appellate oversight within the Turkish legal system.