what is an appeal in a trial case
An appeal is when someone who loses a case in a trial court asks a higher court (the appellate court) to review the trial court's decision. In almost all cases, the appellate court ONLY looks at two things: whether a LEGAL mistake was made in the trial court; AND; whether this mistake changed the final decision (called the judgment) in the case. An appeal is NOT: A new trial with witnesses or a jury;