 If the case is a civil case, the appellate court first checks whether the trial court has committed procedural errors; if yes, it orders a retrial, sending the case back to the trial court.If no, or if the case is criminal, the appellate court conducts what is essentially a retrial itself − the appellate trial does not merely review questions of law but also questions of fact, assessing evidence and questioning witnesses.In addition to the appeal on facts and law against the verdict of the trial court, an appeal at law ( in civil trials, in criminal cases) can be filed against the verdict of the appellate court.