Details on federal appeal options
<p>Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.  Appeals under, 28USC1292(b) states that an "application" must be made ...
What does "application" mean in this rule?</p>

<p>The full text of 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) is as follows (emphasis added):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>(b) When a district judge, in making in a civil action an order not
  otherwise appealable under this section, shall be of the opinion that
  such order involves a controlling question of law as to which there is
  substantial ground for difference of opinion and that an immediate
  appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination
  of the litigation, he shall so state in writing in such order. The
  Court of Appeals which would have jurisdiction of an appeal of such
  action may thereupon, in its discretion, permit an appeal to be taken
  from such order, <strong>if application is made to it within ten days after
  the entry of the order</strong>: Provided, however, <strong>That application for an
  appeal hereunder shall not stay proceedings in the district court
  unless the district judge or the Court of Appeals or a judge thereof
  shall so order.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>In the context of this statute, an "application" is a formal legal document filed in the Court of Appeals with jurisdiction over the relevant district court by one of the parties to the case. This formal legal document would ask the Court of Appeals to make an appellate ruling before the case is completed, in a case in which the trial court judge's order identifies as suitable for immediate review by the Court of Appeals using certain "magic words" set forth in the statute. </p>

<p>The application would probably be formally titled an "Application For Permission To Bring Interlocutory Appeal Pursuant To 28 U.S.C. 1292(b)"</p>

<p>It is similar in character of the "Notice of Appeal" or a "Petition for Writ of Certiorari", and is exactly analogous to its historical counterpart a "Petition for Writ of Mandamus" which has since shed its Latin name in the federal courts and in many state court systems.</p>

united-states civil-procedure federal-courts appeal