What does it mean to appeal a conviction?

An appeal is the process of requesting that a court review a case that has already been heard. This could be a case that was heard at the trial court level or by an appeals court. In Massachusetts, when someone is convicted of a crime, they can appeal the conviction. An appeal is not a retrial. Instead, the appeals court looks at the case to make sure that the law was applied correctly and that the sentence was appropriate for the crime. The appeals court can either affirm the lower court’s decision, modify it, remand the case back to the lower court, or reverse the conviction altogether. When an appeal is filed in Massachusetts, the court must decide whether to hear the case. If the court agrees to hear the appeal, each side is allowed to present their arguments and evidence to the court. The court then reviews the evidence and makes a decision. The court’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. An appeal is usually filed when an individual feels that their conviction was the result of an error in the law or an unfair sentence. This process is an important part of the criminal justice system in Massachusetts and provides individuals with a way to challenge their convictions in court.

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