kohtuastet

Kohtuastmed is a term used to describe the hierarchical levels of a judiciary in which decisions can be reviewed or appealed. The concept encompasses the idea that legal disputes may move from lower courts to higher ones to ensure proper application of the law and uniform jurisprudence.

In Estonia, the typical three-level structure is made up of the maakohus (district court) as the first instance, the ringkonnakohus (circuit court) as the appellate court, and the Riigikohus (Supreme Court) as the highest court. The first instance court handles most civil, criminal, and administrative cases at their initial stage. If a party seeks further review, the case can be appealed to the circuit court, which re-examines the matter on points of law and, in some cases, on factual issues. The Supreme Court is the final instance, primarily focused on ensuring correct interpretation and uniform application of the law and issuing rulings that establish legal precedents for lower courts.

The kohtuastmed framework helps clarify which court has authority to hear a case at different stages and under what circumstances decisions may be overturned or refined. While the general path is from first instance to appellate court and then to the Supreme Court, specific rules can vary by matter, and some cases may have limited opportunities for cassation or constitutional review depending on national legislation.

Overall, kohtuastmed describe the structured path through which Estonian judicial decisions can be challenged and refined, supporting legal consistency and access to judicial remedies. See also: judiciary of Estonia, Estonian court system.