Definition

1. Noun:

   • The party who appeals a decision of a lower court: In a legal context, an "appellant" is the person or entity that initiates an appeal, asking a higher court to review and change the decision made by a lower court.

2. Adjective:

   • Of or relating to or taking account of appeals (usually legal appeals): This describes something connected to the process of appealing a court decision. It is a formal, legal term.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The appellant filed the necessary paperwork to challenge the verdict.
  • The higher court will hear arguments from both the appellant and the respondent.

• Adjective:

  • The appellant court reviewed the case based on the submitted briefs.
  • The lawyer focused on the appellant arguments in her presentation.

Advanced Usage

• "Appellant jurisdiction": The legal authority of a court to hear appeals.
  • The case falls under the appellant jurisdiction of the federal circuit court.

Variants and Related Words

• Appeal (n/v): The act of making a formal request for a decision to be reviewed, or to make such a request.
  • They plan to appeal the conviction.
• Appellate (adj): Relating to or dealing with appeals. This is the more common adjective.
  • The appellate court issued its ruling.
• Appellee (n): The party in a legal case against whom an appeal is filed (the respondent).
  • The appellee argued that the original judgment was correct.

Synonyms

• Petitioner: One who presents a formal, written request to a court.
• Plaintiff in error: An older, formal term for an appellant.

Antonyms

• Appellee: The party who must respond to an appeal.
• Respondent: The party against whom an appeal is made.

Adjective

1. of or relating to or taking account of appeals (usually legal appeals)
   • appellate court

Noun

1. the party who appeals a decision of a lower court