An appeal is a procedure by which you ask a higher court to review a decision made by lower court. If your appeal is successful, the higher court may overturn, revise, or return the case to the lower court for further action. If you are unsuccessful, the lower court’s decision will remain unchanged, and you may be required to pay the court costs of the appeal.
If you have been convicted of a crime, you have an absolute right to appeal. You can appeal the jury’s verdict, or the sentence imposed by the judge, or both. You must act quickly, however, because you have a very limited time within which to file a notice of appeal.
If your civil case (divorce, child custody, personal injury, or other civil matter) has been tried before a jury or judge, and you are not happy with the outcome, you may wish to appeal the verdict or decision. Unlike a criminal conviction, you do not have an absolute right to appeal in a civil case. I will evaluate your case to determine if sufficient legal reason exists to file an appeal. But, you must act quickly because you have a very limited time within which to file a notice of appeal.
I have handled numerous appeals during my years in practice, both criminal and civil. Many attorneys prefer not to handle appeals, for various reasons. I believe appeals are an essential part of the legal process, both civil and criminal. I have enjoyed a number of successes with appeals which have helped my clients. You may see a sampling of some of my appeals, as well as trial court work here.
