California POST Training Practice Test

What is the purpose of an appeal within the court system?

1. To impose a harsher sentence on a defendant

2. To request that a higher court review decisions made by lower courts

3. To introduce new evidence to a previous trial

4. To resolve civil disputes between parties

The correct answer is: To request that a higher court review decisions made by lower courts

The purpose of an appeal within the court system is to request that a higher court review decisions made by lower courts. When a party believes that a legal mistake was made in the trial or in the application of the law, they have the right to seek a higher court's examination of the case. This higher court will review the records of the lower court's proceedings, evaluate the application of legal principles, and determine whether any errors occurred that could have affected the outcome of the case. The goal of this process is not to retry the case, but to ensure fairness and justice by scrutinizing the legal process that was followed in the lower court. Introducing new evidence is generally not permitted in an appeal, since appeals focus on what occurred in the original trial. Similarly, appeals do not serve the purpose of imposing harsher sentences, as they usually challenge the legality or appropriateness of a ruling rather than seeking to increase penalties. While resolving civil disputes is a function of the court system, it typically occurs at trial level, not specifically through the appellate process, which is focused on reviewing previous decisions.