Which appellate court reversed the Discount Marketing Association v Woods decision?

• A. Fourth Circuit
• B. First Circuit
• C. Second Circuit
• D. Ninth Circuit

Answer: (A)

Understanding when an appellate court reverses a lower court’s decision is the key idea here. Reversal occurs when the appellate court finds reversible error in the lower court’s ruling—typically a misapplication or misinterpretation of the law—that changes the outcome of the case. In Discount Marketing Association v Woods, the court that issued the reversal is the Fourth Circuit. That means, on appeal, the Fourth Circuit concluded the district court (or prior ruling) erred, and it overturned that ruling in its own decision. The other circuits would have reversed if they had heard the case and reached the same conclusion, but the record shows the Fourth Circuit was the one to do so.