(Law)at the first court hearing concerning a case
(律)初审时。 参见 court of first instance
(formal)at the request or instigation of
(正式)应…的要求，经…的请求；在…的鼓动下
prosecution at the instance of the police.
应警方要求进行的起诉。
in the first (or second etc.) place; at the first (or second etc.) stage of a proceeding
首先（或其次等）；第一步（或第二步等）
the appointment will be for three years in the first instance.
首先，任期为期三年。
As an example; for example.
作为例子；例如