Which statement about appellate review is true?

Which statement about appellate review is true?

• A. Appellate courts take new testimony
• B. Appellate courts disregard records
• C. Appellate courts base decisions on the record and written/oral arguments and do not receive testimony.
• D. Appellate courts only handle civil cases

Answer: (C)

Appellate review is about checking how the trial court handled the case using what happened in the trial and the legal arguments presented on appeal. The appellate court does not hear new testimony or accept new evidence; instead it reviews the existing record, the parties’ written briefs, and any allowed oral arguments. Its job is to decide whether the trial court properly applied the law, followed procedures, and preserved any errors for appellate correction. Because of that, decisions are based on the record and the arguments, not on new testimony. If you’re thinking about the other options: taking new testimony would amount to a new trial, which isn’t how appeals normally work. Disregarding the record isn’t correct—the record is the basis for review. And appellate courts can handle both civil and criminal appeals, not just civil ones.

Appellate review is about checking how the trial court handled the case using what happened in the trial and the legal arguments presented on appeal. The appellate court does not hear new testimony or accept new evidence; instead it reviews the existing record, the parties’ written briefs, and any allowed oral arguments. Its job is to decide whether the trial court properly applied the law, followed procedures, and preserved any errors for appellate correction. Because of that, decisions are based on the record and the arguments, not on new testimony.

If you’re thinking about the other options: taking new testimony would amount to a new trial, which isn’t how appeals normally work. Disregarding the record isn’t correct—the record is the basis for review. And appellate courts can handle both civil and criminal appeals, not just civil ones.