The Roman Rota, formally the Apostolic Tribunal of the Roman Rota (), and anciently the Apostolic Court of Audience, is the highest appellate tribunal of the Catholic Church, with respect to both Latin-rite membersCodex Iuris Canonici [CIC] canons 1443, 1444. and the Eastern-rite membersCodex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium [CCEO] canon 1065. and is the highest ecclesiastical court constituted by the Holy See related to judicial trials conducted in the Catholic Church.See John Paul II, ap. con. Pastor Bonus art. 121, 80 Acta Apostolicae Sedis 841 (1988) (noting that the Apostolic Signatura is the supreme tribunal) An appeal may be had to the pope himself, who is the supreme ecclesiastical judge.1983 CIC, can. 1442 The Catholic Church has a complete legal system, which is the oldest in the West still in use. The court is named Rota (wheel) because the judges, called auditors, originally met in a round room to hear cases. The Rota was established in the 13th century.
