Only a(n) __________ court can review the decisions of a lower court.

• A. trial
• B. original
• C. legislative
• D. appellate

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that appellate courts are the ones that review decisions made by lower courts. Their job is to examine the trial record for legal errors and ensure the correct application of the law. They don’t conduct new trials or reassess witnesses’ credibility; instead they assess whether the trial court interpreted statutes, applied constitutional protections, or followed proper procedures correctly. If an error is found, the appellate court can affirm, reverse, or remand the case for further action.

A trial (original) court is where a case begins and facts are gathered, with judges or juries determining what actually happened. Legislative courts—the ones created by Congress for specialized purposes—aren’t primarily about reviewing lower court decisions. So the review role belongs to the appellate court.