All of the following would be classified as courts of first instance except:

a.

circuit court

b.

district court

c.

superior court

d.

court of appeal

The correct answer is option D.  "Court of appeal".  

Explanation:

A court of appeal is any court of law that hears an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. These courts have the authority of appellate courts to review decisions of lower courts. Therefore a court of appeal is not a Court of First Instance because in these courts a review of the decisions of previous courts takes place. Actually, the court of appeal is also known as court of second instance.

d: their own individual powers within the new goverment