How are appellate courts different from trial courts?

• A. They hear cases based on the record and written and oral arguments and do not receive testimony or witnesses.
• B. They issue opinions without reviewing records.
• C. They hold jury trials with new witnesses.
• D. They decide cases by the same methods as trials

Answer: (B)

Appellate courts review what happened in the trial using the existing record, the parties’ written briefs, and any oral arguments. They do not hear new testimony or accept new witnesses. Their job is to decide whether the trial court correctly applied the law and whether any legal errors affected the outcome, and they issue written opinions explaining their conclusions. In contrast, trial courts actually hear witnesses, receive evidence, and determine both facts and law, often with juries or judges deciding those facts.