What is the role of an appellate court in a criminal case?

An appellate court is a court that reviews decisions from lower courts. In a criminal case, the appellate court reviews decisions made in the trial court. The primary role of the appellate court is to determine if errors were made for legal or procedural reasons. The one-time decisions made in the trial court, such as jury instructions, are reviewed to ensure the trial was conducted according to the accepted legal standards of the state. This helps ensure that all defendants have a fair trial. The appellate court also reviews the evidence presented at the trial to ensure it was sufficient to convict the defendant. If the evidence presented was insufficient to convict the defendant, the appellate court may overturn the conviction. The appellate court in South Carolina is the South Carolina Supreme Court. This court ensures that no laws of the state are violated by the rulings of the trial court. It hears appeals from both criminal and civil cases. The Supreme Court reviews the proceedings of the trial court to make sure there were no legal errors that deprived the defendant of a fair trial. If errors are found, the Supreme Court will issue an opinion and order the lower court to take corrective action. This corrective action can include retrying the case or overturning the decision.

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What is the role of an appellate court in a criminal case?

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