High court is a name for a variety of courts, often with jurisdiction over the most serious issues.
For countries with acivil law system, the term 'high court' usually refers to anappellate court dealing with first stage of appeal from a trial court, serving as an intermediate body before appeal to theconstitutional court,court of cassation,supreme court, or other highest judicial body.
TheTokyo High Court ofJapan is an example of such a body, hearing appeals from district courts (the general trial courts)
Incommon law countries, mainly those in the formerBritish Empire, the high court is often thesuperior trial court, and has plenary original jurisdiction, with lower courts (such asdistrict courts ormagistrates' courts) having limited jurisdiction; often, the high court tries the most serious offences such as murder, rape, and terrorism.
Additionally, a high court may serve as an intermediate appellate body before appeal to asupreme orconstitutional court. Some jurisdictions, especiallyfederations, may have multiple high courts each with jurisdiction over a particular region. One notable exception is theHigh Court of Australia, which has both original and appellate jurisdiction in addition to performing constitutional court-like functions. The tasks of a typical Commonwealth high court are handled by thestate supreme courts and theFederal Court.
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