What is the difference between an appeals court and a trial court?

An appeals court and a trial court are two distinct legal bodies with different roles in the legal system. An appeals court functions as a higher court with the power to review the decisions made by the lower trial court and to make rulings on the law. An appeals court can overturn decisions, change sentences, or reject a request for an appeal. A trial court is a court that hears and decides cases. It is typically the first court the parties appear in and its role is to decide factual disputes or decide questions of law. The trial court makes its decisions based on laws and evidence presented by the parties. If a decision is disputed, either party can appeal the decision to a higher court, such as an appeals court. An appeals court is a court of general jurisdiction and hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts. One party must file an appeal to bring a case before the appeals court, and the appeals court can review the law to determine if the lower court made a legal error. The appeals court does not hear testimony or receive new evidence like a trial court does. Instead, the appeals court reviews the record from the trial court to decide if the lower court decision should stand.

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What is the difference between an appeals court and a trial court?

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