Appellate Courts
Candlefocus EditorIf the appellate court finds that the lower court’s ruling was made in error, then it can reverse the decision, send the case back to the lower court, or enter a judgment itself. Generally, the appellate court is only concerned with the correctness of the decision, not the underlying facts, which are accepted as true.
However, the appellate court can request supplemental proceedings and even order a new trial if a party hasn’t addressed a factual issue that is vital to the case, or if the appeals court finds that the lower court failed to adequately address a legal issue that must be resolved and that could affect the outcome of the case.
In addition to civil cases, criminal cases and other legal matters, appellate courts are authorized to hear appeals of administrative decisions, such as those issued by government bodies or byministers. This sometimes occurs when agencies deny a party from rightfully obtaining a benefit of some type (such as a license) and the aggrieved party appeals the decision to an appellate court.
The legal system recognizes that mistakes can be made when decisions are made in lower courts, so they allow further review to ensure fairness in the implementation of the law. Appellate courts exist to preserve the standards and rules that are applied in all aspects of the legal system and are an integral part of ensuring that these laws are understood and applied correctly. Without the appellate court system, justice would be much less reliable and dependable.