court of cassation

Calque of French cour de cassation, from cour (“court”) + de (“of”) + cassation, from the verb casser (“to break”), indicating the power of such a court to quash the ruling of the court below.

court of cassation (plural courts of cassation)

1. (law) In several legal systems, the highest-level court of appeal in procedural matters, which is empowered to quash a verdict but then refers the case back for a new trial at the previous level.

Especially used in jurisdictions where administrative courts or the constitutional court are separate from the ordinary court hierarchy, where cases in these courts are appealed (if possible) in their own hierarchies.

• court of last resort