The Decision
It can take some time for the Appellate Court to make a decision on your appeal. Some courts post the decision on their website. Other courts mail you a copy of the decision. Ask the Clerk how you can find out the decision.
The Appellate Court can reverse, remand, affirm or modify the decision of the lower court, or parts of the decision.
- Reverse: This means that the Appellate Court decides that the decision of the lower court was wrong. When this happens, the Appellate Court vacates (cancels) the decision of the lower court.
- Remand: This means that the Appellate Court tells the lower court to hear the case, or part of the case, again.
- Affirm: This is when the Appellate Court says the lower court made the right decision. The decision stays the same.
- Modify: This is when the Appellate Court changes part of the lower court’s decision. For example, the court decides that the judgment should be for $15,000 instead of $5,000.
and/or
