How are appellate courts different from trial courts?

• A. They hear new testimony or witnesses during the appeal.
• B. They review cases based on the record and the written and oral arguments, and do not hear witnesses.
• C. They conduct trials anew with new evidence.
• D. They issue opinions without considering the trial record.

Answer: (B)

Appellate courts focus on how the law was applied to the facts already established in the trial. They review the trial record—the transcripts and exhibits—and the parties’ written and oral arguments to determine if legal errors occurred that could have affected the outcome. They do not hear new testimony or call witnesses because the purpose is to assess the correctness of the legal rulings, not to re‑litigate facts. If a clear legal error is found, the appellate court may reverse, affirm, or remand for further proceedings, but the facts are based on what happened in the trial, not on new evidence. In contrast, trial courts are the arena where witnesses testify, evidence is presented, and factual findings are made. The other options describe actions—accepting new testimony, retrying the case with new evidence, or issuing opinions without considering the trial record—that do not align with how appellate review works.