Which of the following is a characteristic of appellate courts?

Appellate courts primarily function to review and evaluate decisions made by lower trial courts rather than conducting trials themselves. Their role is to determine whether the law was applied correctly and whether proper legal procedures were followed in the initial trial. They do this by examining the record of the lower court's proceedings, including transcripts and evidence, and assessing legal arguments presented by both parties.

In contrast to trial courts, appellate courts do not hear new evidence or witness testimonies; instead, they focus on the written records and the legal arguments from the trial to ensure a fair and just legal process was upheld. This characteristic is fundamental to the appellate process, allowing for the correction of errors and the development of legal principles.

Other options, such as conducting trials or imposing penalties, are roles designated for trial courts, not appellate courts. Additionally, the notion of settling disputes without records is inconsistent with how appellate courts operate since they depend heavily on documented court records for their review process.