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).

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Last Reviewed: January 12, 2024