The party that appeals a court decision is known as?

The party that appeals a court decision is known as the appellant. This terminology is significant in legal proceedings because it designates the individual or entity that is seeking a review of a lower court's ruling. The appellant believes that a legal error was made during the original trial or proceedings and, therefore, seeks a higher court's intervention to overturn or modify the decision.

In contrast, the appellee refers to the party who opposes the appeal, often the one who won in the lower court. The respondent is typically associated with matters in administrative law or family law, referring to the party responding to the petition in certain contexts, but it does not specifically denote the party appealing a decision. The defendant is the individual or entity accused or sued in a legal context, primarily in criminal and civil cases. Therefore, distinguishing these terms within the legal framework is essential for understanding the roles of the parties involved in an appeal.