Tribunal vs. cour
The French words tribunal and cour both translate to the English word court, but they refer to distinct levels within the French judicial system. Generally, a tribunal is a lower court where cases are heard for the first time, while a cour is a higher court that handles appeals, final rulings, or the most serious crimes.
Tribunal
A tribunal is a court of first instance that handles civil, commercial, or minor criminal cases when they are initially brought to the justice system.
Le tribunal de commerce a déclaré l'entreprise en faillite.
(The commercial court declared the company bankrupt.)
Il doit comparaître devant le tribunal judiciaire demain matin.
(He must appear before the judicial court tomorrow morning.)
Les juges du tribunal ont écouté les deux parties avec attention.
(The judges of the court listened to both parties carefully.)
Elle a déposé une plainte au tribunal de proximité.
(She filed a complaint at the local court.)
Le tribunal a condamné le prévenu à payer une amende.
(The court sentenced the defendant to pay a fine.)
Mon avocat m'a conseillé de porter cette affaire devant le tribunal.
(My lawyer advised me to bring this matter before the court.)
Cour
A cour is a higher-level judicial body, such as an appellate court or a supreme court, which reviews decisions made by lower courts or tries major criminal offenses.
La cour d'appel a annulé le jugement précédent.
(The court of appeal overturned the previous judgment.)
Le meurtrier a été jugé par la cour d'assises.
(The murderer was tried by the criminal court.)
Cette affaire ira jusqu'à la cour de cassation.
(This case will go all the way to the supreme court.)
La cour européenne des droits de l'homme a rendu son verdict.
(The European Court of Human Rights has delivered its verdict.)
Les magistrats de la cour ont examiné les nouvelles preuves.
(The magistrates of the court examined the new evidence.)
Le président de la cour a exigé le silence dans la salle d'audience.
(The president of the court demanded silence in the courtroom.)
Summary
To choose the right word, remember that a tribunal represents the starting point of the legal process for everyday disputes and minor offenses. In contrast, a cour represents the upper echelons of the justice system, stepping in for appeals, supreme rulings, and severe crimes.