Courts that review previous cases for errors during the original trial are called

Courts that review previous cases for errors during the original trial are known as appellate courts. Unlike trial courts, which take in evidence and witness testimony to determine the facts of a case, appellate courts focus primarily on the application of the law. When a party believes that the trial court made a legal error that affected the outcome of the case, they can appeal to an appellate court. These courts examine the record of the original trial to determine if any legal mistakes were made, including issues of procedural fairness, the admissibility of evidence, or misinterpretation of the law by the trial judge.

The appellate court does not conduct a new trial or hear new evidence; instead, it utilizes the record from the lower court to decide the case. If they find that an error occurred that would have changed the verdict, they may reverse the decision, remand the case for a new trial, or affirm the original ruling. The appellate process serves as a critical check on the judicial system, ensuring that errors are corrected and that the law is interpreted consistently.