Criminologist Licensure Board Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

A 'New Trial' occurs when an appellate court determines that a previous trial did not adhere to legal standards or that significant errors were made during the original proceedings, thus necessitating a retrial. In this context, the appellate court sends the case back to a lower court for a completely new trial. This means that the case will be re-evaluated and heard again, allowing for evidence and arguments to be presented afresh.

The importance of this process lies in ensuring that justice is served, especially if procedural mistakes or issues with the original trial could have impacted the outcome. During this new trial, different judges may preside, and it provides the opportunity for new evidence to be introduced or previously presented evidence to be reconsidered.

The other options refer to different procedural elements within the judicial system. A dismissal without a hearing involves terminating the case without allowing it to be presented in court. Repeating the original trial with the same judges does not reflect the nature of a new trial, as it emphasizes the potential for bias or error. Lastly, while new testimonies from witnesses can certainly occur in a new trial, the defining aspect is the appellate court's decision to send the case back for retrial, rather than simply altering the witness testimonies.