While relatively rare, wrongful convictions do happen. This is why the court system in the U.S. allows criminal appeals. It is a common misconception that criminal appeals work in a similar way to trials. In reality, the two processes are very different. Outlined...
Even if someone has received the death penalty in a state case rather than a federal one, they can still end up appealing the sentence in a federal appeals court. However, they must go through the state appeals courts first to give them the opportunity to correct an...
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...
You’re interested in appealing a federal case. Perhaps you were convicted, but you feel that the law was applied incorrectly and significant mistakes were made in that case. Even with the evidence that has been presented, you think another outcome is likely in an...
Federal appeals are fairly common. For instance, the U.S. court system typically takes on over 50,000 annual appeals cases. Most of the time, the decisions made in these courts are final, but some people will appeal to the Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court...
Finding ways to fill a 24-hour news cycle can be challenging. Therefore, when the media gets a hold of a good story, coverage is non-stop. Often, an individual has been tried and found innocent or guilty in the court of public opinion before the trial even begins. Can...
If you confess to a crime you can expect to face the consequences. To the outsider, it may seem unfeasible that anyone would admit to a crime they did not commit. However, doing so is relatively common. If you later regret saying you were guilty, you may want to...
It is safe to assume that every person serving time after a federal criminal conviction knows they might have a right to appeal. Unfortunately, that is just about all that most U.S. citizens really understand about this critical area of the law. Factual knowledge and...
During an appeal, a higher court reviews a lower court’s decision and can either affirm or reverse the decision or send a case back to the trial court. However, not all appeals sail through. A good number of them are denied for several reasons. Understanding why your...
Defendants who take their criminal cases to trial often feel very strongly about the need to prove their innocence. They believe that the courts should exonerate them after a review of the situation. However, police officers and prosecutors often do their best to...