Who is referred to as the appellant in a court case?

In a court case, the appellant is the party appealing the decision made by a lower court. This party seeks to overturn or modify the decision based on various grounds, such as alleged legal errors that may have affected the trial's outcome. The appellant believes that the court's ruling was incorrect and is seeking a review from a higher court.

In contrast, the initiator of a lawsuit is typically referred to as the plaintiff in civil cases or the prosecution in criminal cases; these terms designate the party that brings the case forward, distinct from the appellant, who may or may not be the plaintiff. The party that won the trial would be the appellee in the appellate process, as they are the ones defending the original ruling. The judge is responsible for presiding over the trial and making decisions regarding the law, but they do not have the title of appellant as they are not involved in the appeal process. Thus, identifying the appellant specifically as the party appealing the decision clarifies their role within the judicial system.