What is the federal appeals process?

The federal appeals process is the process whereby a person accused of a federal crime in South Dakota may challenge the outcome of their trial in a higher court. It begins at the district court level, where an appeal is heard and decided upon by a panel of judges. If the decision is not satisfactory, the appellant may move forward to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. This court, located in St. Louis, Missouri, hears appeals from court decisions from the seven participating states (Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota). At this court, an Appeals Panel of three judges reviews the records from the trial, hears oral arguments, and renders a decision. If the appellant is still dissatisfied, they may then appeal to the United States Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court receives as many as 7,000 to 8,000 petitions for review of appeals court decisions each year, and only about 80-100 of those petitions are accepted for review and argument. In essence, the federal appeals process in South Dakota provides multiple levels of review for those accused of a federal crime, giving them a chance to have their case reviewed by several higher courts in order to ensure that the decision rendered is fair and just.

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What is the federal appeals process?

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