If a party wishes to contest the outcome of a trial that they believe was unfair, what role do they take in the appeal?

In the context of an appeal, a party who contests the outcome of a trial and seeks to overturn or modify that judgment is referred to as the appellant. The appellant is typically the party who was dissatisfied with the decision made by the trial court and is seeking relief from a higher court.

The appellate process allows this individual to argue that errors were made during the trial that affected the fairness or outcome of the case. The appellant presents their case to the appellate court, highlighting what they believe were the mistakes or violations of law that warrant a review of the decision. This role is essential because it speaks to the fundamental purpose of the appellate system: to provide a mechanism for parties to seek justice and correct potential errors from previous court proceedings.

The other roles, such as appellee (the party responding to an appeal), litigant (a general term for someone involved in a lawsuit), and respondent, refer to different aspects of the litigation and appeal processes, but they do not embody the act of actively contesting the trial's outcome as the appellant does. This distinction is crucial in understanding the dynamics within an appeal.