Which of the following best describes an appellate court's primary function?

An appellate court's primary function is to review trial court decisions. This involves examining the trial court's application of the law, its procedural handling of the case, and its rulings on evidentiary issues to determine whether any legal errors occurred that could have affected the outcome of the case.

Appellate courts do not retry cases or hear new evidence; their role is to rely on the record from the trial court, including the original trial's transcript and evidence. They focus on questions of law rather than questions of fact. By reviewing trial court decisions, appellate courts ensure that justice is upheld and that legal standards are consistently applied, which is crucial for maintaining the rule of law.

The options referring to retrying cases, interpreting laws, and hearing new evidence do not accurately represent an appellate court's function, as these responsibilities are typically aligned with trial courts or the legislative body that creates laws.