Criminal Appeal Lawyer Midvale, UT

Tough Criminal Appeal Lawyer Midvale, UT

If you are found guilty of a criminal charge, you have a Constitutional right to appeal your conviction. However, if you’re representing yourself, it’s highly unlikely you understand how the Utah appellant procedure works. That’s why it’s imperative to consult the top criminal appeal lawyers in Midvale, UT.

An appeal is a request to another court to review the decision of the court or jury. You may appeal convictions and, in rare cases, you might be able to appeal a guilty plea, too. The appellate process, however, is lengthy, confusing, and specific. If you’re considering appealing a conviction, consult Pacific Legal Group, some of the most experienced criminal appeal lawyers in Midvale, UT.

Pacific Legal is a full-service law office specializing in criminal defense, personal injury, bankruptcy, family law, and more practices. Their experienced lawyers will hear your case and create a plan to move forward with the appellate court.

What To Know About Appeals

Typically, an appeal is not made against the final outcome of a trial, but rather errors leading up to its final decision. Some common critical errors that may lead to an appeal include:

  • Inappropriate jury instructions
  • Ineffective assistance of counsel
  • Violation of Constitutional rights
  • Wrongful rulings on the suppression of evidence
  • Permitting unreliable witnesses to testify
  • Statute of limitations

If a jury or judge finds you guilty, you may appeal that decision, but the success of your appeal will depend on the facts of your case. Likewise, it’s imperative to file an appeal as soon as possible, as failure to file soon enough may forfeit your right to do so in the future.

The time-sensitive nature of the appellate process makes it imperative to call a Midvale, UT criminal appeal lawyer as soon as possible.

How The Criminal Appellate Process Works

The Utah appellate process usually plays out like this:

  1. Counsel files a Notice of Appeal and appropriate fee.
  2. Transcriptionist creates transcripts of the relevant hearings and trial.
  3. Defendant files a Docketing Statement that provides an overview of the case and jurisdiction.
  4. Trial court sends the record of appeal to the Court of Appeals, including all the evidence entered in the case, plus any motions, transcripts, and rulings.
  5. Once received, the Court sets a briefing schedule, and the defendant has 30 days to submit an opening brief. The State then has 30 days to file an opposition brief, then the defendant has 15 days to file a reply brief.

The Court of Appeals may or may not determine to hear oral arguments. If it does, it generally takes between 70 and 120 days after oral arguments for the court to render a decision. All that said, the entire timeline may range widely based on the specific case.

Contact Our Criminal Appeal Lawyers Midvale, UT

The appellate process is time-consuming and complicated. The average defendant may struggle to even recognize if their case is worth appealing, let alone how to proceed.

If you’re considering an appeal, contact our Midvale, UT criminal appeal lawyer to discuss your case today before proceeding.