What is Appellate Definition?
In legal terms, an appellate definition refers to the process of appealing a decision made by a lower court to a higher court. This process allows for a review of the lower court’s decision to ensure that it was made correctly and fairly.
How Does the Appellate Process Work?
When a party is dissatisfied with a decision made by a lower court, they can file an appeal with a higher court. The higher court will then review the lower court’s decision, the evidence presented, and any legal arguments made to determine if there were any errors in the lower court’s decision.
- Appellant: The party appealing the lower court’s decision.
- Appellee: The party who won the case in the lower court and is responding to the appeal.
Examples of Appellate Cases
One famous appellate case is Marbury v. Madison where the Supreme Court established its power of judicial review. Another example is Brown v. Board of Education which ended legal segregation in public schools.
Benefits of the Appellate Process
1. Ensures fair and just decisions.
2. Establishes legal precedent.
3. Provides clarity on legal issues.
Statistics on Appellate Cases
According to the American Bar Association, over 10,000 cases are appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court each year, but only around 80-100 are accepted for review.
