What does appellate jurisdiction allow a court to do?

Appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to review and make decisions on the appeals from lower court rulings. This means that a court with appellate jurisdiction does not conduct new trials or hear new evidence; rather, it evaluates whether the law was correctly applied and whether the legal procedures followed in the lower court were appropriate.

In essence, this allows higher courts to ensure that justice is served and that legal standards are upheld in the judicial process. When a party believes that an error has occurred in the lower court's handling of a case, they can appeal to a court with appellate jurisdiction. The appellate courts then review the record of the case, listen to arguments, and issue rulings that can affirm, reverse, or modify the lower court's decision. This process is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the legal system and providing a mechanism for correction of errors.