Which U.S. courts determine if the law was correctly applied by a trial court?

Appellate courts are specifically designed to review the decisions made by trial courts to determine if the law was applied correctly. These courts focus on legal issues rather than factual disputes, examining the trial record and the applicable law. They assess whether the lower court's decision was consistent with the relevant laws and regulations, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the judicial system.

These courts do not conduct new trials or hear new evidence; instead, they rely on the record from the lower court to ascertain if any legal errors occurred that could have affected the outcome of the case. The process of appeal allows for oversight, ensuring that trials adhere to legal standards and that justice is fairly administered.

Other types of courts, such as district courts, primarily handle cases in the first instance, conducting trials and making initial judgments. The Supreme Court, while a high authority in the judicial system that can also review decisions, typically takes cases of substantial constitutional importance or legal principle rather than routine appeals. State courts, meanwhile, have their own systems for addressing legal matters but do not specifically denote the review functionality of appellate courts in the context of federal legal applications.