A petitioner is always in need of an opponent, or respondent. The person who opposes their prayer and raises objections to what they are petitioning for is called “respondent”.
The petitioner is the party who approaches the court with a petition. The petitioner on appeal is typically the party that lost in the lower court. This might be either the plaintiff or defendant from the lower court, as either party may appeal the case to a higher court.
If the state or any private individual acts unlawfully, the petitioner may file a petition in court. In this instance, the petitioner, frequently referred to as a plaintiff, will present a court with a plea to resolve the dispute.
