Final answer:
The purpose of appellate courts is to review lower court decisions and ensure they comply with the law and the Constitution. The Supreme Court serves as the final appellate court, ensuring justice through uniform interpretation of the law and resolving significant legal questions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of appellate courts is to review the decisions made by lower courts to ensure they are in accordance with the law and the Constitution. Appellate courts have the appellate jurisdiction to hear cases after they have been decided by lower courts. This is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the justice system and upholding the rule of law. Moreover, the Supreme Court, as the ultimate appellate court in the United States, serves to resolve important legal questions and matters of constitutional interpretation. It plays a key role in ensuring that the laws are fairly and equitably interpreted and enforced, as well as in maintaining domestic tranquility and the principle of the rule of law.
Most cases reach the Supreme Court through a writ of certiorari, requesting a review of the lower court's decision. The Supreme Court exercises its discretion in selecting cases that present significant constitutional questions or when there are differing interpretations of law, ensuring that justice is established consistently across the nation.