24/7 call for a free consultation 212-300-5196

AS SEEN ON

EXPERIENCEDTop Rated

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN TODD SPODEK ON THE NETFLIX SHOW
INVENTING ANNA

When you’re facing a federal issue, you need an attorney whose going to be available 24/7 to help you get the results and outcome you need. The value of working with the Spodek Law Group is that we treat each and every client like a member of our family.

Client Testimonials

5

THE BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR.

The BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR!!! Todd changed our lives! He’s not JUST a lawyer representing us for a case. Todd and his office have become Family. When we entered his office in August of 2022, we entered with such anxiety, uncertainty, and so much stress. Honestly we were very lost. My husband and I felt alone. How could a lawyer who didn’t know us, know our family, know our background represents us, When this could change our lives for the next 5-7years that my husband was facing in Federal jail. By the time our free consultation was over with Todd, we left his office at ease. All our questions were answered and we had a sense of relief.

schedule a consultation

Blog

What Issues are Raised in a Federal Criminal Appeal?

March 21, 2024 Uncategorized

The Appellate Court System: Understanding the Appellate Brief in Federal Criminal Appeals

When someone receives a ruling that they disagree with, there is still hope. The system known as the Circuit Court of Appeals is a judicial resource that is available to anyone who received an unfavorable ruling. However, the appeals process often deals only with issues already present within the legal record and rarely deals with new evidence, witnesses, or documents. It simply requires both lawyers to file appellate briefs that outline their arguments on review by an appellate court judge.

The process of filing an appeal

The process of filing an appeal in federal criminal court starts with an appellate brief. This document can be lengthy but contains a summary of its contents in its opening lines. The appellant’s lawyer will typically file a notice to appeal on behalf of someone who has lost their case during trial within ten days after receiving the adverse verdict. Once this process goes into effect, both sides will file the appellate brief, which initiates the appellate process.

Appellate Court Procedures

Many people are unaware of the requirements and procedure for appealing decisions from formal proceedings since these procedures do not take place in person at an actual location like many other courtroom events. As such, there is relatively little public understanding about how appellate courts function nowadays.

An appellate court isn’t necessarily based at any one physical location; hence no juries, witnesses or court record keepers are involved during formal proceeding processes. This indicates that even cases overlooked earlier must undergo all regulations and have several layers of appeals before being declared unreviewable by higher authorities.

For instance, new facts and evidence aren’t admissible to the appellate court except for exceptional circumstances. For these reasons alone it can be difficult for individuals without extensive involvement in legal proceedings to understand what issues are raised and handled during criminal appeals.

The Appellate Circuit Court System

The Circuit Court of Appeals system is essential for everyone who isn’t satisfied with a court ruling to file an appeal. However, as previously mentioned, the appellate process doesn’t deal with new evidence, witness statements or documents. Therefore, it’s simply a requirement that both lawyers have to file appellate briefs if they want their arguments on reviewed by appellate court judges following the trial’s conclusion.

On accepting the case at hand, the hearing begins initially when both parties involved submit appropriate briefs specifically detailing their arguments and points raised throughout the trial. The content of the brief contains crucial points such as issues raised throughout the appeal and can determine whether or not certain appeals should be overturned.

Issues Raised in Appellate Court

Appeal issues raised assist in raising and resolving procedural mistakes and errors relating to protocol during trials. Typically submitted for review throughout appeals cases are conflicts arising from legal reference points regarding constitutional law. Other issues commonly arise during appeals processes from procedural rule violations during trials. Unfair Conduct or ruling fairness takes center stage when Appealing disputed Cases. Motions to suppress evidence within a brief may include submission claiming certain evidence was improperly admitted on a statuary basis due to constitution violations. Provisions for prosecutorial misconduct are available cases where false data was presented through imbalanced discussions during jury selections or exculpatory records being withheld from trials

Writing an Appellate Brief

An appellate brief is considered one of the most influential documents in federal criminal appellate courts. Issues raised within this document become critical focal points later reviewed by federal judges leading to decisions determining winning cases versus those upheld after trial has concluded.

As previously discussed, persuasive arguments backed by existing case law, facts and logic determine how successful these appeals will be received during hearings as perceived by Judges rendering decisions on each case.
Writing a compelling appellate brief that can persuade the Judge reviewing it is one of the most significant aspects essential throughout federal cases. Because many judges have general expertise without intense concentration in any single realm of law, understanding particular views explored by judges crafting your brief can be of tremendous help.

Appellate briefs formulated in a narrative format detailing compelling arguments, bolstered with relevant factual data through strong legal foundations determines how persuasive each appellate case considered before higher authorities will be.

Motion to Suppress Evidence & Unfair Conduct/Ruling FairnessSuccessful appeals often revolve around suppression or exclusion of evidence presented by either party for various reasons or appeals. Conversely, appeals may also arise from accusations of unfair conduct such as incorrect verdicts due to bias tendencies shown during trials by those intending to remain impartial at all times.Appeals help guarantee those involved in trials have another chance for justice if they feel their rights were not honored during prior court proceedings. Understanding the basics of how appeltate proceedings are conducted and developing strong appellate briefs is crucial when planning to appeal.

Procedural Mistakes and Errors Conflicts with Legal Precedence Improper Procedures during Court

Situations Addressed

+ Procedural rule violations during trials
+ Conflicting legal reference points regarding constitutional
law
+ Imbalance within jury selection processes
+ Evidence suppression related to statute bases or constitutional causes
+ Processes based on prosecutorial misconduct

+Conflict with some existing legal precedent or higher constitutional law. If procedural rules were violated at trial, arguments may focus on mistrials relating to improper procedure breaches committed during these proceedings.

Lawyers You Can Trust

Todd Spodek

Founding Partner

view profile

RALPH P. FRANCHO, JR

Associate

view profile

JEREMY FEIGENBAUM

Associate Attorney

view profile

ELIZABETH GARVEY

Associate

view profile

CLAIRE BANKS

Associate

view profile

RAJESH BARUA

Of-Counsel

view profile

CHAD LEWIN

Of-Counsel

view profile

Criminal Defense Lawyers Trusted By the Media

schedule a consultation
Schedule Your Consultation Now