What does the term 'appeal' refer to in legal proceedings?

The term 'appeal' in legal proceedings refers to a request for a higher court to review a lower court's decision. This process is a critical aspect of the judicial system, allowing parties who believe that a legal error has occurred in a trial to seek a remedy. Appeals typically focus on issues of law rather than issues of fact; thus, an appellate court examines whether the law was applied correctly during the original proceedings.

This mechanism is essential for ensuring that legal standards are consistently upheld and that injustices can be addressed. It provides an important check on the lower courts and maintains the integrity of the judicial process by allowing for the possibility of correction when errors are identified.

In contrast, filing new charges against a defendant does not constitute an appeal and relates more to prosecutorial actions, while the choice of a new lawyer is a matter of personal legal representation and not directly connected to the appellate process. Lastly, a jury reconsidering a verdict pertains to trial procedures rather than the framework of appealing decisions made by a trial court.