Appeals Court

Before hearing any case, the court must have jurisdiction to consider the appeal. The authority of appellate courts to review the decisions of lower courts varies widely from one jurisdiction to another. In some areas, the appellate court has limited powers of review. Generally, an appellate court's judgment provides the final directive of the appeals court as to the matter appealed, setting out with specificity the court's determination that the action appealed from should be affirmed, reversed, remanded or modified. Depending on the type of case and the decision below, appellate review primarily consists of either an entirely new hearing (a non trial de novo), a hearing where the appellate court gives deference to the factual findings of the lower court, or a hearing to review particular legal rulings made by the lower court (an appeal on the record).