What is the role of a court of appeals in the judicial system?

The role of a court of appeals in the judicial system primarily involves reviewing trial court records. This means that the appellate court examines the record of the original trial, including transcripts, evidence presented, and the legal arguments made by both sides. The purpose of this review is to determine whether there were any legal errors that materially affected the outcome of the trial. Appellate courts do not conduct new trials; instead, they assess whether the law was applied correctly and whether the trial was conducted fairly according to established legal standards.

Additionally, appellate courts do not have the authority to overturn all previous court decisions indiscriminately, as doing so would undermine the principle of legal stability and respect for precedent. Also, appellate courts do not draft new legislation; that function resides with the legislative branch of government. Their primary function is to ensure that the legal process is upheld and to address any potential injustices that may have occurred during the trial stage.