AAERT Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) Practice Test

Which entity has the authority to review decisions made by lower courts?

1. District Courts

2. Appeals Courts

3. Municipal Courts

4. State Courts

The correct answer is: Appeals Courts

The Appeals Courts have the authority to review decisions made by lower courts due to their specific role in the judicial system. These courts operate on a principle of overseeing and evaluating appeals filed by parties who believe that a legal error occurred in a trial court's decision. This includes assessing both the application of the law and the procedural aspects of the trial. Appellate courts examine the records from lower courts to ensure that the law was applied correctly and that the proper legal standards were adhered to. They do not conduct new trials or hear new evidence, but rather focus on the interpretation of existing law in the context of previous rulings and legal principles. In contrast, District Courts, Municipal Courts, and State Courts typically serve either as trial courts or lower-level adjudicators that handle specific types of cases but do not possess the authority to review the decisions of higher courts. Their function does not include the appellate review process, which is exclusively the domain of Appeals Courts. This distinct separation ensures that there is a systematic and structured approach to legal review, maintaining the integrity of judicial decision-making.