What is a characteristic of appellate courts?

Appellate courts are primarily tasked with reviewing decisions made by lower courts, rather than hearing cases for the first time. A defining characteristic of these courts is their focus on examining the procedures and legal findings of trial courts. This means that appellate courts evaluate whether the trial court applied the law correctly and followed proper legal procedures. They do not reconsider the facts of the case or hear new evidence; instead, they analyze the record of the trial court proceedings to determine if any errors were made that could warrant a reversal or modification of the lower court's ruling.

The other options highlight aspects that do not align with the primary functions of appellate courts. For instance, appellate courts do not have original jurisdiction, as that is reserved for trial courts. They do not focus on requests for criminal trials since their role is to review cases already decided, and while they may have some influence on jury instructions, this is not a primary characteristic of their function but rather a procedural matter that is usually determined by trial courts.