An appeal is when you ask a higher court to take another look at a decision made by the first court you went to. You are asking the higher court to review the lower court's order or ruling. You ask for a review if you think the first court made a mistake.
Mistakes can be made about:
- How facts were used in a case. For example, the court did not understand the facts or considered some facts to be really important when they were not.
- The law. For example, the court did not understand the law or used the law in the wrong way.
- Process: if there was something unfair or wrong about the court process.
The person who asks for the appeal is called the appellant (a-PELL-ant). The person who is on the other side of the appeal is called the respondent (re-SPON-dent).
Last Reviewed: January 12, 2024