cassation

Cassation \Cas*sa"tion\, n. [F. cassation. See {Cass}.]
   The act of annulling.
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         A general cassation of their constitutions. --Motley.
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   {Court of cassation}, the highest court of appeal in France,
      which has power to quash (Casser) or reverse the decisions
      of the inferior courts.
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CASSATION, French law. A decision which emanates from the sovereign 
authority, and by which a sentence or judgment in the last resort is 
annulled., Merl. Rep. h.t. This jurisdiction is now given to the Cour de 
Cassation. 
     2. This court is composed of fifty-two judges, including four 
presidents, an attorney-general, and six substitutes, bearing the title of 
advocates general; a chief clerk, four subordinate clerks, and eight 
huissiers. Its jurisdiction extends to the examination and superintendence 
of the judgments and decrees of the inferior court, both in civil and 
criminal cases. It is divided into three sections, namely, the section des 
requetes, the section civile, and the section criminelle. Merl. Rep. mots 
Cour de Cassation.