In canon law, which court is commonly referred to as the supreme court for cassation review?

• A. Apostolic Penitentiary
• B. Congregation for the Clergy
• C. Local diocesan tribunal
• D. Roman Rota

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is understanding who reviews judgments on points of law within the canon law system. The Roman Rota serves as the primary appellate court for most canonical cases, handling appeals from diocesan tribunals and other lower courts with a focus on questions of law and the correct application of canon law. Because its role is to correct legal errors and ensure uniform interpretation across the Church, it is commonly described as the supreme court for cassation review. The Apostolic Penitentiary deals with internal forum matters and indulgences, the Congregation for the Clergy handles governance and discipline of clerics, and a local diocesan tribunal is a first-instance court. So the Roman Rota is the court that fits the description of the supreme cassation review body.