“Petitioner” often means the same thing as appellant. For example, a party appealing to the Supreme Court of the United States is the party appealing to the Supreme Court.
But petitioner does not always mean an appellant. A party initiating an action in a trial court may also be called a petitioner. In that situation, petitioner would be a synonym for plaintiff.
Pronunciation
Sample Sentences
According to the appellate court, the trial court judge erred in dismissing petitioner’s complaint.
Petitioner asked the Circuit Court to instruct the trial court judge to rule on his long-delayed motion.
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