Who is referred to as the appellant?

The appellant is identified as the party who initiates an appeal in a legal proceeding. This role is critical in the appeals process, as it is the appellant who challenges the decision made by a lower court, seeking a review and potential reversal of that decision from a higher court. The appellant believes that the lower court made an error in its judgment and thus files an appeal to correct that error.

Understanding the role of the appellant helps clarify legal processes and the dynamics between the parties involved in an appeal. The other roles mentioned, such as the defending party against an appeal, the presiding judge, or the reviewing court, all serve different functions in the legal framework, contributing to the overall appeal process, but none are responsible for initiating the appeal itself.