If you file a case in state court and lose, where do you appeal?

When a party loses a case in state court, the appropriate course of action for appealing that decision is to file an appeal in a higher state court. This follows the general principle that appeals must be made within the same court system where the original case was filed.

Higher state courts, such as the appellate division of the state court system, specifically handle appeals from lower courts, including trial courts. These courts review the lower court's decision for legal errors that may have affected the outcome of the case.

Federal courts and the Supreme Court of the United States serve different jurisdictions and purposes. Filing an appeal in those courts would not be appropriate unless a federal question or constitutional matter is involved, which typically does not apply in routine state court cases. Additionally, small claims courts are designed for minor disputes and typically do not allow for appeals in the manner that state courts do for higher hearings.

Therefore, the correct answer is that an appeal from a losing decision in state court goes to a higher state court.