What is the standard for appellate review of a criminal conviction?

The standard for appellate review of a criminal conviction in South Carolina is "abuse of discretion." This means that the court of appeals must decide whether the lower court’s decision was reasonable. The court of appeals must give deference to the decision made by the lower court, and it must only reverse the lower court’s decision if there is clear evidence that the lower court abused its discretion in making the decision. When the court of appeals is considering an appeal of a criminal conviction, it must consider the evidence presented in the trial, any legal issues argued by the parties, and the legal standard that the lower court was supposed to apply when making its decision. The court of appeals must give deference to the lower court’s decision unless it is clear that the lower court abused its discretion in making its decision. For example, if the lower court applied the wrong legal standard or ignored relevant evidence in making its decision, then the court of appeals may find that the lower court abused its discretion and reverse its decision. The appellate court’s review of a criminal conviction is limited to mistakes of law or errors of fact. It cannot re-try the case or substitute its own judgment for that of the lower court. It is the lower court’s task to consider all the evidence presented, and the appellate court’s job is to determine if the lower court applied the appropriate legal standards and considered the relevant evidence. If it is clear that the lower court abused its discretion in making its decision, then the appellate court may reverse the lower court’s decision.

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What is the standard for appellate review of a criminal conviction?

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