What happens to a case appealed from a non-record court?

• A. The trial is reviewed for errors in the record.
• B. The case is decided on summary disposition.
• C. The trial in the appellate court is de novo, a new trial as if the case had originally commenced in that court.
• D. The appeal is automatically granted.

Answer: (C)

When a case is appealed from a non-record court, there is no transcript or existing record for the appellate court to review for errors. The remedy is to re-examine the matter from the ground up. This is called a de novo review, a new trial as if the case had been started in that court. The appellate court conducts its own proceedings, often taking new evidence or testimony, and makes fresh findings of fact and law to reach a decision. This approach fits because without a prior record to scrutinize, the appellate court must evaluate the case anew rather than merely checking for mistakes in the earlier proceedings.