Standards of review define how much deference an appellate court gives to lower-court decisions.
Three common standards
- De novo for legal interpretation questions.
- Clear error for factual findings.
- Abuse of discretion for discretionary rulings.
Why this affects outcomes
Different standards can produce different results even when parties present similar facts, because the level of deference changes the court's analysis.
Different issues in the same appeal can involve different standards of review.