A B737-700 First Officer reported departing on a flight with a mechanical issue that had been improperly documented by maintenance.

Narrative

We had a maintenance discrepancy at the gate involving the emergency brake system. Maintenance said that the system was normal after consulting with their manual. Even though the discrepancy was signed off and we were legal to depart; our system knowledge made us feel that a problem still existed. When we arrived at our destination the Captain advised the new crew of our write-up. They contacted maintenance for a consultation and it was subsequently determined that a problem did in fact exist and remedial action was taken. Even though we were in doubt about the initial maintenance determination; we trusted their interpretation of their manual and the sign-off of the discrepancy. The possibility certainly existed that there was something we didn't fully understand that their manual covered. Additionally; we were aware that some pilots had been disciplined by the company regarding write-ups; which the company felt were frivolous. I personally think that this could have been in the back of our minds since we had already taken a delay and going against maintenance and investigating further would have significantly increased the delay and; if we were wrong; subjected us to possibly the same fate.