In appellate practice, what does the term 'reverse' mean?

In appellate practice, what does the term 'reverse' mean?

• A. To uphold the lower court's decision.
• B. To overturn by contrary opinion.
• C. To remand a case for a new trial.
• D. To issue a writ of certiorari.

Answer: (B)

In appellate practice, to reverse means the appellate court disagrees with the lower court's ruling and substitutes its own judgment for that ruling. The appellate court finds that the trial court erred and, instead of leaving the decision in place, sets aside the lower court’s decision. That reversal can lead to different outcomes: the appellate court may remand the case for further proceedings consistent with its ruling, or it may enter a new judgment directly in favor of the party who won on appeal, depending on the specifics of the case. This is different from upholding (affirming) the lower court, which means the existing ruling stands; from remanding, which is sending the case back for further action without necessarily reversing the ruling; and from a writ of certiorari, which is a higher court’s discretionary review request rather than a direct reversal of a lower court’s ruling.

In appellate practice, to reverse means the appellate court disagrees with the lower court's ruling and substitutes its own judgment for that ruling. The appellate court finds that the trial court erred and, instead of leaving the decision in place, sets aside the lower court’s decision. That reversal can lead to different outcomes: the appellate court may remand the case for further proceedings consistent with its ruling, or it may enter a new judgment directly in favor of the party who won on appeal, depending on the specifics of the case.

This is different from upholding (affirming) the lower court, which means the existing ruling stands; from remanding, which is sending the case back for further action without necessarily reversing the ruling; and from a writ of certiorari, which is a higher court’s discretionary review request rather than a direct reversal of a lower court’s ruling.