The California Courts of Appeal are the state's intermediate courts of review. Their primary function is to ensure that the law is interpreted and applied correctly.

The California Courts of Appeal review the vast majority of appealable orders or judgments from superior courts. The primary exception involves death penalty cases, which automatically are appealed directly to the California Supreme Court.

California has six appellate districts, based on geography. Some districts are further subdivided into divisions. A presiding justice and two or more associate justices sit in each appellate district. In the most recent year, more than 20,000 appeals and original proceedings were filed in the California Courts of Appeal.