How does an appellate court evaluate a trial court’s legal errors?

In South Carolina, an appellate court evaluates a trial court’s legal errors by conducting a review of relevant documents and the trial court’s proceedings. The appellate court will consider both the facts of the case and the trial court’s application of the law in order to determine if any legal errors have been made. If the appellate court finds a legal error, it will then determine whether the error had an effect on the outcome of the trial. If so, then the appellate court may reverse or modify the decision of the trial court. The appellate court may also consider other errors that did not directly affect the outcome of the trial, a process known as “harmless error review.” This is where the court will look to see if the error was minor and insubstantial and did not substantially affect the outcome of the trial. In addition, the appellate court may also review the record to determine if there has been an abuse of discretion by the trial court. This occurs when the trial court has acted in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner, and the appellate court can overturn the trial court’s decision. Ultimately, the appellate court may affirm, reverse, or modify the decision of the trial court, depending on the legal errors that have been found. Regardless of the outcome, an appellate court will always base its decision on legal precedent in order to ensure fairness and impartiality.

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How does an appellate court evaluate a trial court’s legal errors?

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