Appellate courts review lower rulings and decide by written opinions.

Evidence

Appellate courts are multijudge courts whose job is to review the legal correctness of lower court rulings in cases that are appealed to them. The appellate court announces its rulings in judicial opinions that explain the legal bases of its decisions. Because the responsibilities of trial and appellate courts differ, so too do the jobs of trial and appellate judges. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 571

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the core institutional role distinguishing appellate from trial courts.
• XREF: connects to: Judicial influence on the Supreme Court is exercised through written opinions — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 945; Appellate courts differ from trial courts by focusing on legal analysis in written opinions. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2440; Appellate courts address legal questions rather than factual ones — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1247 (+9 more)

Broader Connections

• Appellate courts differ from trial courts by focusing on legal analysis in written opinions. #expands (0.90) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2440
• Written interchange among appellate judges shapes and narrows final opinions #expands (0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 577
• Opinion-drafting dialogue among appellate judges shapes or narrows their collective decisions #expands (0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 577
• Judicial influence on the Supreme Court is exercised through written opinions #expands (0.78) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 945
• Justices may grant review to correct lower court rulings they oppose. #expands (0.75) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1530
• Trial and appellate courts perform distinct functions regarding facts versus legal correctness #expands (0.75) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 218
• Supreme Court law clerks draft opinions under close supervision #expands (0.75) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 905
• Appellate courts address legal questions rather than factual ones #qualifies (0.72) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1247
• Court hierarchies bind lower courts to higher courts’ rulings #expands (0.72) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 257
• Fragmented Supreme Court majorities complicate lower courts’ interpretation of rulings #complicates (0.70) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1570