The courts
standard of review
How much deference an appellate court gives the decision below. De novo means fresh; clear error and abuse of discretion mean the lower court usually wins.
In full
Legal conclusions are reviewed de novo, with no deference. Factual findings by a judge are reversed only for clear error, and a jury's findings get more protection still. Discretionary calls, such as evidentiary rulings, are reversed only for abuse of discretion. The standard often decides the appeal before the merits are reached.
Also written as: de novo review, abuse of discretion, clear error
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.