What is the process of a criminal appeals court?

The process of a criminal appeals court in California is the way for a defendant to challenge their criminal convictions or sentences if they disagree with the outcome of the original court proceedings. An appeals court is made up of a panel of judges who review the original court ruling to decide if there were any errors made in the trial that may have affected the outcome. The appeals process begins with a written notice of appeal by the defendant or the defendant’s attorney. The notice informs the court that the defendant is requesting a review of the original court ruling and also includes any issues or opposing points that the defendant wishes to bring up. Next, the appeals court looks at the transcripts and other information from the original court trial to decide if any errors were made. This includes looking at whether the evidence was properly used, if appropriate instructions were given to the jury, and if any of the defendant’s constitutional rights were violated. Finally, the appeals court makes a ruling on the appeal. They can either affirm the original justice court’s ruling, reverse the ruling, or modify it in some way. Once the appeals court has made its decision, it can also be appealed to the California Supreme Court.

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