Question

Lower courts consistently comply with supreme court opinions because if they do not, they most certainly would cause ________.

Answer 1

they most certainly would cause "confusion, for example reversal on appeal or the verdict being struck down, and controversy".

The term lower court refers to a court; an appeal might be taken from that. In connection to an appeal starting with one court then onto the next, the lower court is the court whose choice is being investigated, which might be the first trial court or appeal court lesser in rank than the upper court which is hearing the plea.