1 A court in which any proceedings are initiated. 2 Loosely, a court in which a case is tried, as opposed to any court in which it may be heard on appeal.

What is court of 1st instance?

noun. a court in which legal proceedings are begun or first heard.

What happens in the court of first instance?

Courts of first instance are where trials are first held. The court that will be used will depend on the seriousness of the offence. The courts of first instance include the Magistrates' Courts and the Crown Court for criminal trials, and the County Courts and High Court for civil disputes.