User:Synonymous-solecism/Rota
Highest appellate tribunal of the Catholic Church / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the papal symbol, see Rota (papal signature).
The Roman Rota, officially the Apostolic Tribunal of the Roman Rota (Latin: Tribunal Apostolicum Rotae Romanae), and prior to the 14th century, the Apostolic Court of Audience, is an appellate tribunal of the Catholic Church, for both Latin-rite members[1] and the Eastern-rite members.[2] It serves as a collegiate (third instance) court of appeals after judgements given by lower tribunals (diocesan or metropolitan), and hears predominately ecclesiastical matrimonial cases. The Rota is part of the Catholic Church's legal system, the oldest in the West still in use. The name comes from Rota ("wheel") because the judges, called auditors, originally met in a round room to hear cases.[3]