Which statement about de novo appeals is true?

Which statement about de novo appeals is true?

• A. The reviewing court determines facts anew but applies the law without deference to the trial court's findings
• B. The reviewing court defers to the trial court's factual findings but reviews the law de novo
• C. The reviewing court only reviews for errors of law
• D. The reviewing court does not review the record

Answer: (A)

De novo review means the appellate court re-examines the case from scratch, not giving special weight to the trial court’s factual findings. The court assesses the facts anew and then applies the law independently, without deferring to the trial court’s conclusions. That’s why the statement that the reviewing court determines facts anew and applies the law without deference to the trial court’s findings is true. The other ideas describe deferring on facts, reviewing only for legal errors, or not reviewing the record at all, which don’t fit how de novo appeals work.

De novo review means the appellate court re-examines the case from scratch, not giving special weight to the trial court’s factual findings. The court assesses the facts anew and then applies the law independently, without deferring to the trial court’s conclusions. That’s why the statement that the reviewing court determines facts anew and applies the law without deference to the trial court’s findings is true. The other ideas describe deferring on facts, reviewing only for legal errors, or not reviewing the record at all, which don’t fit how de novo appeals work.