Trial court factual findings are nearly final because appeals cannot introduce new testimony.
Evidence
Indeed, their success in fact finding is crucial to the administration of justice. If a trial court misinterprets or misapplies the law, its error can be corrected on appeal. But if a trial court does not uncover all the relevant facts, there is no mechanism for introducing new testimony on appeal. Moreover, because they did not hear the witnesses, appellate courts are usually reluctant to reverse a trial court ruling, even if they suspect the trial judge may have misinterpreted the facts of the case. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1280
Categorization
- DEFINE: Explains the practical basis for appellate deference to trial fact-finding.
- XREF: Links to the course’s treatment of standards of review and the structure of appellate courts. — connects to: Trial court fact-finding errors cannot be remedied on appeal — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 801; Once a court decides a matter, no new scientific evidence can reopen it. — , Harr Jonathan - A Civil Action , 2967
Broader Connections
- Trial court fact-finding errors cannot be remedied on appeal
#corroborates(1.00) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 801 - Once a court decides a matter, no new scientific evidence can reopen it.
#complicates(0.80) — , Harr Jonathan - A Civil Action, 2967