What is the term for a written argument presented to an appeals court outlining the law as it should be applied to the client's facts?

• A. Remand
• B. Appellate brief
• C. Harmless error
• D. Insanity defense

Answer: (B)

The term for a written argument presented to an appeals court outlining how the law should be applied to the client's facts is an appellate brief. This formal document is filed with the appellate court and argues why the lower court’s decision should be affirmed or reversed. It lays out the issues on appeal, the relevant facts from the record as needed to support the legal arguments, the applicable statutes and case law, and a structured argument showing how the law should be applied to the facts to reach the desired outcome. It may also explain the standard of review the appellate court should apply and what relief is being requested.

Remand refers to sending a case back to the trial court for further proceedings. Harmless error is a finding that a trial-court mistake did not affect the outcome. An insanity defense is a criminal defense claiming lack of criminal responsibility due to mental state.