What is an appeal?

An appeal is when a party in a legal case asks a higher court to review the decision of a lower court. In Florida, if a person does not agree with a court’s decision, they may appeal in accordance with the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. To do this, they must file a Notice of Appeal with the lower court, along with an appellate brief that outlines the legal arguments for why the appellant believes the lower court’s decision should be overturned. Once the Notice of Appeal is filed, the higher court reviews the case to determine if an error was made or if the lower court’s decision should be reversed. Appeals in Florida are heard by the District Court of Appeal, which reviews the decisions of trial courts. At the District Court of Appeals, the same three-judge panel will preside over the oral arguments and review the record for legal errors. From there, if a party is still dissatisfied with the decision, it may be taken up by the Supreme Court of Florida, and ultimately to the Supreme Court of the United States.

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