What is the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction? a. Original jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a federal court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard in a State court. b. Original jurisdiction refers to criminal or civil cases; appellate jurisdiction refers to only to civil cases. c. Original jurisdiction refers to a case that could be heard in a federal or a State court; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case that must be heard in a federal court. d. Original jurisdiction refers to a court where a case is first heard; appellate jurisdiction refers to a case being heard after it was tried in a lower court.

Original Jurisdiction is the power of court to hear the case first before it's heard in any lower courts. Under this power the Supreme Court of the United States hear the cases first handedly, considering the facts and laws of the case.

Whereas, the appellate jurisdiction is the power of the Supreme Court where it is first heard and tried in the lower court and then passed to the Supreme Court. The cases are most commonly passed to the Supreme Court through writ of certiorari. Most cases that come to the Supreme Court come through writ of certiorari.

Therefore, option D is correct.