What does trial de novo mean?

• A. When a case is appealed, it is retried at the higher level as though it was a new case that had never been heard before.
• B. The case is dismissed.
• C. The appeal is automatic.
• D. The case is reviewed only on the record

Answer: (C)

Trial de novo means a full retrial at the higher court, as if the case had never been heard before. In this process, the case is heard anew with fresh evidence, witnesses, and arguments, rather than the higher court merely reviewing the original record. It’s not about dismissing the case, not automatic, and not simply reviewing the prior proceedings on the existing file. The key idea is starting over with a new trial in the higher court.