An appeal is a request to a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court. In the United States, there are two main types of appeals: civil appeals and criminal appeals. Civil appeals are used to challenge decisions made in civil cases, such as lawsuits between private parties. Criminal appeals are used to challenge decisions made in criminal cases, such as those involving charges of crimes.
Appeals are important because they allow parties to challenge decisions that they believe are incorrect. Appeals can also be used to correct errors made by the lower court, to ensure that the law is applied correctly, and to promote uniformity in the law. In some cases, appeals can also be used to delay the enforcement of a lower court’s decision.