Who files a notice of appeal in an appellate court?

The individual who files a notice of appeal in an appellate court is the appellant. This is the party who is dissatisfied with the decision or outcome of a lower court and seeks to challenge that decision. In the appeals process, the appellant provides the appellate court with the grounds for the appeal, often arguing that errors were made during the trial that impacted the outcome.

Filing the notice of appeal is a critical step, as it formally initiates the appellate process. It typically must be submitted within a specified timeframe after the lower court's decision to ensure that the appeal is considered timely.

In contrast, the roles of the other parties mentioned are different. The respondent or appellee is generally the party that responds to the appeal, often defending the lower court's decision, while the plaintiff is the party that originally brought the case in the trial court, and their role may differ in the appellate court context depending on who is appealing the decision.