What role do appellate courts play in relation to transcripts?

Appellate courts play a critical role in the judicial system, especially concerning the evaluation of transcripts from lower court proceedings. When these courts review cases, they primarily focus on legal procedures and whether the law was correctly applied during the original trial. This involves examining the transcripts to ensure that proper legal standards were upheld, the rights of the parties involved were respected, and that there were no significant errors that would warrant a reversal of the decision or a new trial.

By scrutinizing the transcripts, appellate courts can identify potential legal issues, such as evidentiary mistakes or misapplications of law, that could have affected the outcome of the case. Their review doesn’t involve re-evaluating witness testimonies or conducting their investigations, which distinguishes their function from that of trial courts. Instead, their role is more about overseeing the process to ensure fairness and justice in the application of the law, making the review of transcripts a fundamental part of their responsibilities.