Legal Dictionary
Affirm
Definition
To confirm, ratify, or otherwise approve a lower court's decision on appeal.
Deep Dive
In appellate law, "to affirm" means that a higher court agrees with and upholds the decision or judgment previously rendered by a lower court. When an appellate court affirms a lower court's ruling, it indicates that, upon review, it found no significant or reversible error in the original proceedings, the application of law, or the findings of fact that would warrant overturning or modifying the prior judgment.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1The State Court of Appeals voted unanimously to *affirm* the trial court's conviction of the defendant
- 2After reviewing all arguments, the Supreme Court decided to *affirm* the appellate court's interpretation of the contested statute
- 3The appeals court *affirmed* the lower court's decision to grant a preliminary injunction, finding no abuse of discretion.
Related Terms
AppealUpholdReverseRemand