How are appeals handled in criminal defense law?

In California, criminal defense law cases allow a convicted person to appeal their sentence. An appeal is a request to a higher court to have a decision reviewed. An appeal can be made for a variety of reasons, including that the trial court made a mistake in the law or procedure that affected the outcome. To begin the appeals process in California, a Notice of Appeal is filed with the trial court. This must be done within a set amount of time, typically sixty days of the sentence being imposed. A court reporter must also be requested to transcribe the court record. The defendant’s attorney then files a brief with the appellate court, detailing the reasons why the conviction should be reversed. The other side will then file a brief in response. The appellate court then reviews the briefs, and the transcript of the trial court proceedings, and may grant oral argument. This is where attorneys from either side make their arguments before the court. The court then issues a ruling. This ruling can be either to reverse the conviction and order a new trial, or to affirm the conviction and uphold the sentence. Depending on the ruling, the other side may have a right to appeal the decision to a higher court. The appeals process can be lengthy and complex. As such, it is important for anyone considering an appeal in a criminal defense case to seek competent legal advice from an experienced attorney.

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