NOTICE: This glossary of legal words and phrases is provided to help you better understand the legal terminology used in the court system. THIS GLOSSARY IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ADVICE OF AN ATTORNEY.
THIS WEBSITE CANNOT GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD NEVER RELY ON THESE VERY BASIC DEFINITIONS TO MAKE LEGAL DECISIONS. Please use this glossary to get a general understanding of your legal circumstance and have a better interaction with your attorney.
Appellant—The party affected by a trial court decision who seeks to have a court of appeals or a supreme court review that lower court decision for legal error. An appellant begins an appeal by filing a Notice of Appeal.
Appellee—A party affected by a court decision who opposes the appeal filed by another party.
Affirmed—A decision by an appellate court confirming that the decision of a lower court on one or more legal points is legally proper.
Reversed—A decision by an appellate court finding that the decision of a lower court is not legally proper on one or more legal points and must be changed by the trial court.
Because an appeal may contain more than one question of law, it is possible for an appellate court to affirm certain parts of a lower court decision while in the same opinion reversing other points.
Overruled—A supreme court can change a legal precedent set in earlier case law if it decides that the older case was not correctly decided or that the legal rule in the earlier case needs to be changed.
Modified—A decision by an appellate court finding that the decision of a lower court is not legally proper and is being changed by order of the appellate court.
Remanded—A decision by an appellate court sending a case back to a lower court for further action. A case that is reversed is frequently remanded to a lower court for additional proceedings consistent with the appellate court’s determination of the correct law to be applied.