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Court Of Last Resort
The court of last resort is the highest court you can appeal to in a case, and its decision is final with no further appeal possible.
What it actually is
In most legal systems, this is the supreme court of the jurisdiction, such as a state supreme court or the U.S. Supreme Court. It appears at the end of the appellate process, after you have lost in lower trial and intermediate appellate courts, and only if the court agrees to hear your case.
Why it matters in your case
If you lose at the court of last resort, your case is over—no higher authority can reverse the outcome. This means you must make your strongest arguments earlier, because you may never get a chance to present them to this final court.
The common misunderstanding
Many people think the court of last resort will automatically review their case, but in reality it has discretion to reject most appeals, often only accepting cases that involve important legal questions or conflicting lower court rulings.
Get the actual rule
Definitions are orientation; rules are authority
This page explains the concept. When it matters to your case, read the rule that governs it in your court — we hold Texas, federal and Washington court rules word for word, and every state's official resources are on the state pages. If someone cites a case at you, check that it exists first.
Related
Terms that travel with this one
General explanation, not legal advice, and not specific to any state — procedures and deadlines vary by jurisdiction and court. If you can get a lawyer or free legal aid, do: every real option.