Appeal vs. Repeal: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Appeal means to request a higher court to review a decision; Repeal is the act of officially revoking a law or act.
Key Differences
Appeal in legal terms refers to the process of asking a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court. It is a recourse for someone who believes the initial verdict was unjust or incorrect. Repeal, on the other hand, involves the process of legally revoking, annulling, or rescinding a law, policy, or act by a competent authority, usually a legislative body.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
In a courtroom scenario, a party who is dissatisfied with a decision might file an appeal to have a higher court reexamine the facts, evidence, and legal arguments of the case, hoping for a different outcome. Conversely, repeal is not a process carried out in courts but in governmental or legislative settings, where lawmakers decide to remove or invalidate a law or regulation.
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Dec 04, 2023
Appeal can also have broader meanings outside the legal context, referring to making a serious, urgent, or heartfelt request or being attractive or interesting. Repeal, however, is specifically used in the context of laws and formal rules and does not extend beyond legal or legislative terminology.
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Dec 04, 2023
The decision to appeal a court ruling stems from the belief that the legal process may have been flawed or the verdict unfair. An appeal might lead to a reversal, amendment, or affirmation of the original decision. In contrast, a repeal signifies a change in public policy or societal norms, reflecting a shift in the legislative body’s stance or public opinion on a particular issue.
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Dec 04, 2023
In essence, while an appeal is a procedural step within the judicial system to challenge a decision, a repeal is an action taken by a legislative body to withdraw a law or regulation from the legal system altogether.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Request for a higher court's review of a decision.
Official revocation of a law or act.
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Dec 04, 2023
Purpose
To challenge and potentially change a court decision.
To remove a law or policy from the legal system.
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Dec 04, 2023
Process
Filed in court by a party to a case.
Carried out by a legislative body.
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Dec 04, 2023
Outcome
Can lead to reversal, amendment, or affirmation.
Results in the law or policy being no longer in effect.
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Appeal and Repeal Definitions
Appeal
Request a higher court to review a lower court's decision.
The defendant decided to appeal the court's verdict.
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Dec 04, 2023
Repeal
To revoke or annul a law or congressional act.
The new administration vowed to repeal the controversial law.
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Dec 04, 2023
Appeal
An earnest request for aid, support, or sympathy.
The charity made an appeal for donations.
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Dec 04, 2023
Repeal
Official withdrawal of legal or legislative measures.
The repeal of the act was a significant political move.
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Dec 04, 2023
Appeal
The quality of being attractive or pleasing.
The picturesque landscape held great appeal for photographers.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Repeal
To rescind or abolish legal rulings or directives.
The government announced the repeal of the emergency regulations.
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Dec 04, 2023
Repeal
Elimination of existing laws from the statute books.
The legislature passed a bill for the repeal of the tax.
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Dec 04, 2023
Appeal
A resort to a higher authority or greater power, as for sanction, corroboration, or a decision
An appeal to reason.
An appeal to her listener's sympathy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeal
The action of reversing a policy or decision.
Activists campaigned for the repeal of the outdated ordinance.
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Dec 04, 2023
Appeal
A higher court's review of the correctness of a decision by a lower court.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
A request for a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
The power of attracting or of arousing interest
A city with special appeal for museumgoers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeal
To recall; to summon (a person) again; to bring (a person) back from exile or banishment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
To have recourse, as for corroboration; resort
I appeal to your sense of justice.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeal
To recall; to summon again, as persons.
The banished Bolingbroke repeals himself,And with uplifted arms is safe arrived.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
To request for an appeal of (a case) to a higher court for rehearing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeal
To recall, as a deed, will, law, or statute; to revoke; to rescind or abrogate by authority, as by act of the legislature; as, to repeal a law.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeal
To suppress; to repel.
Whence Adam soon repealedThe doubts that in his heart arose.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
An application to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeal
Recall, as from exile.
The tribunes are no soldiers; and their peopleWill be as rash in the repeal, as hastyTo expel him thence.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
The legal document or form by which such an application is made; also, the court case in which the application is argued.
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeal
Revocation; abrogation; as, the repeal of a statute; the repeal of a law or a usage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
A person's legal right to apply to court for such a review.
I have an appeal against the lower court decision.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(historical) An accusation or charge against someone for wrongdoing (especially treason).
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeal
Annul by recalling or rescinding;
He revoked the ban on smoking
Lift an embargo
Vacate a death sentence
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(historical) A process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offence against the public; an accusation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(historical) At common law, an accusation made against a felon by one of their accomplices (called an approver).
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
A call to a person or an authority for a decision, help, or proof; an entreaty, an invocation.
He made an appeal for volunteers to help at the festival.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(cricket) The act, by the fielding side, of asking an umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out or not.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(rhetoric) A call to, or the use of, a principle or quality for purposes of persuasion.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(historical) A summons to defend one's honour in a duel, or one's innocence in a trial by combat; a challenge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(intransitive) Often followed by against (the inferior court's decision) or to (the superior court): to apply to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an inferior court or judge to be reviewed and overturned.
Dissatisfied with the judge’s ruling, she decided to appeal.
He was advised by his lawyer to appeal against his conviction.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
To apply to a superior court or judge to review and overturn (a decision or order by an inferior court or judge).
The plaintiff appealed the decision to the appellate court.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Of a private person: to instituted legal proceedings (against another private person) for some heinous crime, demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Of the accomplice of a felon: to make an accusation at common law against (the felon).
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(intransitive) To call upon a person or an authority to corroborate a statement, to decide a controverted question, or to vindicate one's rights; to entreat, to invoke.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Of a fielding side; to ask an umpire for a decision on whether a batsman is out or not, usually by saying "How's that?" or "Howzat?".
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(intransitive) To call upon someone for a favour, help, etc.
I appeal to all of you to help the orphans.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
To summon (someone) to defend their honour in a duel, or their innocence in a trial by combat; to challenge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
To make application for the removal of (a cause) from an inferior to a superior judge or court for a rehearing or review on account of alleged injustice or illegality in the trial below. We say, the cause was appealed from an inferior court.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
To summon; to challenge.
Man to man will I appeal the Norman to the lists.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
To apply for the removal of a cause from an inferior to a superior judge or court for the purpose of reëxamination of for decision.
I appeal unto Cæsar.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
To call upon another to decide a question controverted, to corroborate a statement, to vindicate one's rights, etc.; as, I appeal to all mankind for the truth of what is alleged. Hence: To call on one for aid; to make earnest request.
I appeal to the Scriptures in the original.
They appealed to the sword.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
An application for the removal of a cause or suit from an inferior to a superior judge or court for reëxamination or review.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
A call upon a person or an authority for proof or decision, in one's favor; reference to another as witness; a call for help or a favor; entreaty.
A kind of appeal to the Deity, the author of wonders.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Resort to physical means; recourse.
Every milder method is to be tried, before a nation makes an appeal to arms.
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Earnest or urgent request;
An entreaty to stop the fighting
An appeal for help
An appeal to the public to keep calm
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates;
His smile was part of his appeal to her
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
(law) a legal proceeding in which the appellant resorts to a higher court for the purpose of obtaining a review of a lower court decision and a reversal of the lower court's judgment or the granting of a new trial;
Their appeal was denied in the superior court
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Request for a sum of money;
An appeal to raise money for starving children
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Take a court case to a higher court for review;
He was found guilty but appealed immediately
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection;
Appeal to somebody for help
Invoke God in times of trouble
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Be attractive to;
The idea of a vacation appeals to me
The beautiful garden attracted many people
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
Cite as an authority; resort to;
He invoked the law that would save him
I appealed to the law of 1900
She invoked an ancient law
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Oct 19, 2023
Appeal
The power of being attractive or interesting.
The novel's unique storyline had wide appeal.
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Dec 04, 2023
Appeal
To apply to someone for a favorable decision.
They made an appeal to the committee for extra funding.
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Dec 04, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Are repealed laws erased from legal history?
Repealed laws are not erased but are no longer in effect; they remain part of the historical legal record.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is an Appeal in court?
An appeal is a process of requesting a higher court to review and possibly change a lower court’s decision.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can a law be repealed at any time?
Laws can be repealed when the legislative body deems it necessary, but the process and requirements may vary by jurisdiction.
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Dec 04, 2023
Do repealed laws ever get reinstated?
Yes, laws that have been repealed can be reinstated through a new legislative process if circumstances change.
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Dec 04, 2023
What does Repeal mean in law?
Repeal refers to the process of revoking or annulling a law or legislative act.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is the role of executive branches in repealing laws?
In some cases, the executive branch may have the authority to issue executive orders that repeal or modify specific regulations.
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Dec 04, 2023
What are the common types of appeals?
Common types of appeals include criminal appeals, civil appeals, and appeals in administrative proceedings.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can the outcome of an appeal change the original decision?
Yes, a successful appeal can result in the reversal or modification of the original decision.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can the repeal of a law have retroactive effects?
Repealing a law usually applies to future cases, but some legal systems may address retroactive effects in specific circumstances.
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Dec 04, 2023
Are appeals limited to legal cases?
No, appeals can also be made in non-legal contexts, such as appealing a school admission decision.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is the appellate court?
An appellate court is a higher court responsible for reviewing appeals and making decisions based on the law.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is an appellate brief?
An appellate brief is a written document submitted to the appellate court, summarizing the arguments and legal points of an appeal.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is there a time limit for filing an appeal?
Yes, there is usually a specific time frame, known as the statute of limitations, within which an appeal must be filed.
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Dec 04, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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