In Utah, civil cases are appealed directly to the state supreme court, which then has the power to refer the case instead to an intermediate appellate court, rather than being appealed first to an intermediate applellate court and then to a state supreme court.
An appeal from a state trial court would typically go to the state court of appeals first, and then possibly to the state supreme court if further appeal is sought. The appellate courts review the trial court's decisions for errors, without hearing new evidence. This structure ensures that parties have the opportunity to challenge the trial court's ruling in higher courts.
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