What goes into appealing a court decision?

In most states, a defendant with an outstanding judgment must pay a bond to suspend collection of the judgment while it appeals a decision. (See the section on Appeal Bond Reform for more information.) Appealing a decision typically involves each side filing briefs arguing whether there were errors made by the trial court judge in interpreting and applying the law, or in ruling on the admissibility of evidence. The appellate court may hold oral argument in which each side presents its argument and answers the judges’ questions. This process may take anywhere from a few months to several years.