Define: Court Of First Instance

The Court of First Instance is a legal term that refers to a court where legal proceedings are initiated and initial judgements are made on a case. It is typically the first level of judicial authority in a hierarchical court system. The Court of First Instance hears cases for the first time, evaluates evidence, and renders initial judgements based on applicable laws and regulations. Depending on the jurisdiction, the Court of First Instance may have limited jurisdiction, such as hearing only civil or criminal cases, or it may have general jurisdiction, allowing it to hear a wide range of legal matters. In some legal systems, decisions made by the Court of First Instance may be subject to appeal to higher courts.

The court originally set up to deal with matters arising from the internal administration of the EU (so-called ‘staff cases’), but which now has essentially the same jurisdiction as the ECJ. The only important actions over which it does not have jurisdiction are those bought by one member state against another for failure to comply with obligations under EC law.

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March 2024.