What is an "appeal"?

An appeal is best defined as a request to a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court. In the legal context, after a trial or a final judgment is made by a lower court, either party involved in the case may feel aggrieved by that decision. The party that is dissatisfied typically seeks to have the decision reconsidered through the appellate process. This can involve examining whether legal errors were made that affected the outcome of the trial or whether the law was applied correctly.

The appellate court does not conduct a new trial. Instead, it reviews the record of the lower court's proceedings, examines legal arguments presented by both sides, and determines if the decision should be upheld, reversed, or modified. This concept is fundamental to ensuring justice, providing an opportunity for mistakes made in the lower courts to be addressed.

Other options like a motion to dismiss or a formal response to a lawsuit refer to procedural actions taken at the trial level and do not encompass the function or purpose of an appeal. Similarly, a process to amend a legal complaint pertains to altering the claim presented in court and is distinct from the appellate process, which specifically deals with reviewing decisions rather than modifying complaints.