courts

Appear is a verb used when a party makes an appearance at trial. You can appear either in person or virtually, though both options are not always available in any given court. 

For more specific information, see appearance. 

[Last reviewed in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]

A party enters an appearance when they show up to court in response to a service of process. Appearance isn’t only a reference to physical presence in court when required, but also to procedural compliance (e.g., filing an answer, participating in discovery).

Appellant is the party who appeals a lower court's judgment or order to a higher court.

An appellate court is the higher court that hears and reviews the appeals from legal cases that have already been heard and ruled on in a lower court.

Appellate jurisdiction refers to the power of a court to hear appeals from lower courts.  

• appellate jurisdiction
• appellate practice
• APPELLATE PROCEDURE
• Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure
• APPELLATE REVIEW

Appellate procedure consists of the rules and practices by which appellate courts review trial court judgments. Appellate review performs several functions, including correcting errors committed by a trial court, developing the law, and achieving uniformity across courts.

Appellee is the party against whom the appeal is filed and responds to and defends the appeal. The appellee is also referred to as the respondent.

Approach refers to moving toward the bench, a witness, or the jury box in court.

Approach the witness refers to when an attorney moves towards a witness in order to show them a document or exhibit. See approach.

Appropriation occurs when a defendant uses a plaintiff’s name, likeness, or image without their permission for commercial purposes. Appropriation is one of several torts falling under the category of invasion of privacy.

• tort law