instance; level of court
Legal term referring to the tier or instance of a court proceeding (first instance, second instance, etc.). Used in formal legal contexts.
If you are dissatisfied with the judgment of the first instance, you can appeal to a higher instance.
The Supreme Court is the final instance for this case.
Compound of 審 (しん, 'trial, hearing') and 級 (きゅう, 'rank, class'). The term is a modern legal coinage.