A trial court's capacity to directly observe witnesses' gestures, demeanor, and other nonverbal behavior supports the decision of an appellate court to
A)conduct a new trial and re-examine the witnesses.
B)apply the trial court's interpretation of the law in the case.
C)defer to the trial court's findings on questions of fact.
D)focus on what really happened in regard to the dispute.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Appellate courts typically defer to trial courts on questions of fact because trial courts have the direct opportunity to observe witness behavior and assess credibility, which cannot be fully appreciated through a written record.

A Trial Court's Capacity to Directly Observe Witnesses' Gestures, Demeanor