Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
APPEAL'. The right of appeal was acknowledged in the Jewish law. Deut 17:8, Gal 1:9. For matters of controversy might be referred for final adjudication to "the priests, the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days," in the place chosen of God. But this is not, properly speaking, such an appeal as our law recognizes. Yet we find traces of the principle in the days of the Judges, Jud 4:5, and of the kings. 2 Sam 15:3. Jehoshaphat established a permanent court before which all cases might come. 2 Chr 19:8. This court was re-established by Ezra. Ezr 7:25.
The Sanhedrin in later times was the court of final appeal. By the Roman law every accused citizen had a right to carry his cause before the emperor at Rome, by appeal from the judgment of the magistrate. Acts 25:11.