What is the role of the appellate court in determining the facts of a case?

The role of an appellate court in determining the facts of a case is to review the evidence and trial proceedings to ensure they were conducted fairly and correctly. In Hawaii, the appellate court is the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Their job is to review the record of a case from the lower court and make sure the law was applied properly. The appellate court will not re-try the facts of a case, but will review the evidence, procedure and legal arguments to make sure the lower court reached the correct conclusion. They may reverse the decision of the lower court if they find it to be in error. On the other hand, if the lower court’s verdict is correct, the appellate court will affirm the judgment. In order to arrive at the facts of a case, the appellate court will review the trial transcript, briefs (documents filed by the parties in the case) and other legal documents submitted by both sides. They will then interpret the facts according to the law and render a decision. Because the appellate court’s role is to review and confirm the decisions of the lower court, they will not consider any new facts or arguments. The judges on the panel may also take into account the opinions of the judges on the lower court’s bench, if relevant. By reviewing the facts of a case and making sure the law was applied properly, the appellate court is able to help ensure justice is served.

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