Legal term for a court that hears a case initially, as opposed to an appellate court. Used in formal legal contexts.
The court of first instance handles the initial trial of the case.
地方裁判所 is the modern term for a district court, which often serves as a court of first instance; 予審廷 is an older or more specific legal term.
Compound of 予審 (preliminary hearing) and 廷 (court). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is used in legal contexts.