Appeals Attorney Los Angeles

Appeals are our bread and butter. Appeals differ from trials. In a trial, the jury decides the facts; in an appeal, a panel of judges (“justices”) decides the law. Appeals do not involve fact-finding beyond that performed at trial; the justices review documents, including trial transcripts, to determine whether there was a legal error. In contrast to trials, appeals are mostly decided on written briefs. There may be oral arguments, but almost always, the appellate panel has already drafted its opinion.

What is an Appeal?

People who lose their case in court may file an appeal with their appeals lawyer to a higher court for a review of the decision. The higher court or appeals court reviews the case for any errors that might have affected the outcome. Parties may not present new evidence.

Can My Case Be Appealed?

Both criminal and civil cases can be appealed. Either party (plaintiff or defendant) may appeal in a civil case, but except in limited circumstances, only the defendant may appeal in a criminal case. If a criminal defendant is acquitted, the prosecutor may not appeal. Appeals generally assert (1) there was prejudicial (harmful) error; and/or (2) there was insufficient evidence for a reasonable trier of fact to reach the decision, which was thus unreasonable as a matter of law.

How Appellate Courts Work

There are appellate courts at both the state and federal levels. These appellate courts consist of a panel of judges, not a jury. Once an appeal has been filed, the case goes through several steps before a decision is made:

1.  After the notice of appeal has been filed, the attorney for the appealing party (appellant) designates the record, indicating which documents and transcripts will be presented in the appeal. Attorneys may decide to file these documents in an appendix when they file the opening brief rather than specify at the outset which documents they will present. The state or federal appellate court reviews the court record from the lower court, including written motions and hearing or trial transcripts, to identify any errors that were made.
2. The appellant’s attorney prepares and files an opening brief with the Court of Appeal.  The brief summarizes the procedural history and facts presented below and explains why the Court of Appeal should reverse the decision.
3. The opposing party (respondent) files a brief in response, disputing appellate arguments. Respondent tries to explain why the trial outcome was proper, either because there were no errors or because they did not materially affect the outcome.
4. The appellant files a third and final (reply) brief addressing the respondent’s contentions.
5. After receiving the briefing, the appellate justices and their staff review the briefs and prepare an opinion. There might be oral arguments, where the appeals attorneys can present their case in person and answer any questions the justices might have. Only appellate lawyers are required to attend the oral arguments.

How Long Does an Appeal Usually Take?

Appellate courts must issue a written opinion within 90 days of argument (or when the argument could have been held), or else they do not get paid! But there is no deadline for holding oral arguments, so appeals can take as long as a year — or more.

Do I Need an Appellate Attorney for My Appeal?

Even though you don’t need an appeals attorney to file an appeal, it will help to have one. Appeals can be complex, and knowing what to do — and when — can be challenging. You will benefit from hiring an experienced appellate attorney who is familiar with the court appeals process in Los Angeles, California, to help you file your appeal case.

Get Help With Your Case From an Experienced Appeals Lawyer in Los Angeles, California

Mitchell Keiter, appeals attorney in Los Angeles, California, at Keiter Appellate Law, is certified as an appellate specialist by the state of California and has participated in approximately 600 appeals in both state and federal court. Contact our appeals lawyers today to get help with your appeal.