A person who’s convicted of a federal crime might be facing considerable time in prison, as well as other penalties. However, there are cases in which someone may opt to appeal a conviction because of a misapplication of the law. These appeals are complex and may result in a number of different outcomes.
When a person files an appeal, they’re asking a higher court to review the facts of their case, including transcripts, briefs and evidence that was already presented. Typically, new evidence isn’t introduced during the appeals process. An appellate court is looking for specific legal errors that could have had a direct impact on the verdict of the trial at issue. Because of this, the person who’s appealing must generally show that the errors in the case significantly impacted the outcome of the matter.
Potential outcomes of an appeal
There are several outcomes possible when a person appeals a conviction. One of these is that the appellate court upholds the conviction. This occurs when that court doesn’t see any legal errors that could have substantially influenced the outcome of the case. When this happens, the conviction remains and the defendant remains obligated to serve their sentence.
Another outcome is that the appellate court may reverse the conviction. This occurs if there are substantial legal errors that likely contributed to the outcome of the trial. When this occurs, the defendant may be granted a new trial, but it’s also possible that the court will fully dismiss the charges.
Another possibility is that the appellate court may remand the case back to the trial court. This requires a reevaluation of the facts of the case per specific instructions. The trial court must act on those directives, which can alter the outcome of the case.
Launching an appeal must be done swiftly, and the response must be thorough. The outcome of an appeal is typically rooted in the written briefs that are submitted to the appellate court. While it’s possible that oral arguments will occur, it’s not common, so the written briefs must be comprehensive. Working with a legal representative who can assist with preparing an appeal is, therefore, wise.