Final answer:
The final resolution of an appeal rests with the appellate courts or ultimately with the Supreme Court if the case advances to that level. The appellant is the party that initiates the appeal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The final resolution of an appeal on a formal complaint will rest with the appellate court or with the Supreme Court if the case reaches that level. Typically, once a case has gone through the initial trial process, wherein the jury determines guilt and the judge may determine the penalty, an appellant who is dissatisfied with the outcome can seek an appeal to a higher court. In the appellate courts, judges rather than juries review the lower court's application of the law to ensure it was applied correctly. If further appealed, the Supreme Court, known as the 'court of last resort', ultimately has the power to decide on the resolution of the case. In this context, the appellant is the party who initiates the appeal because they are unhappy with the decision made by the lower court.