Which term describes the first level of courts in the judicial system?

• A. Appellate Court
• B. Indeterminate Sentencing
• C. Expungement
• D. Trial Court

Answer: (D)

Trial courts are the starting point of the judiciary, where cases are filed, evidence is presented, and decisions are made on the facts under the applicable law. They handle the initial fact-finding, hear witnesses, and determine outcomes such as guilt or liability, and, in criminal cases, impose sentences within the framework of the law. Appellate courts, in contrast, review the decisions of trial courts for legal errors and usually do not hear new evidence. Indeterminate sentencing is a sentencing approach, not a level of court. Expungement is the process to seal or erase a criminal record, not a type of court. Because the question asks for the first level in the judicial system, the term that fits best is trial court.