In a criminal context, what does an "appeal" signify?

An "appeal" in a criminal context signifies a legal process for reviewing a lower court's decision. This process allows a party, typically the defendant or the prosecution, to seek a higher court's review of the lower court's rulings and judgments. The purpose of an appeal is to ensure that the law was correctly applied and that proper procedures were followed during the original trial.

Upon appeal, the higher court examines the record of the lower court proceedings, considers legal arguments presented by both sides, and determines whether any errors were made that could have impacted the outcome of the case. The appellate court does not conduct a new trial or re-evaluate evidence, rather it focuses on issues of law and constitutional rights that may have been violated.

In contrast, other options imply different legal concepts. A new trial in a higher court is not what an appeal is, as an appeal does not involve re-hearing testimony or evidence. A request for a re-sentencing hearing is specific to situations where a sentence is challenged after conviction, rather than the broader scope of an appeal. Similarly, a demand for a mistrial relates to procedural mistakes during the trial itself rather than an appellate review of a decision. Thus, the correct understanding of an appeal as a