an appellate court's power to reverse decisions of lower courts. Appellate review should be distinguished from judicial review, which refers to a court's power to refuse to enforce an unconstitutional law.

Appellate review is the general term for the process by which courts with appellate jurisdiction take jurisdiction of matters decided by lower courts. It is distinguished from judicial review, which refers to the court's overriding constitutional or statutory right to determine if a legislative act or administrative decision is defective for jurisdictional or other reasons (which may vary by jurisdiction).