Successful

How Often Are Appeals Successful?

When a defendant is found guilty, he or she can sometimes appeal the decision in appellate court. Though an appeal is not the same as another trial, nor does it have to result in another trial, it can be pursued to point out possible errors made during the first trial.

An appeal simply asks for another examination of certain information that was already used in the case.

In some instances, courts approve the appeal and the case may return to court for a second trial. Alternatively, the court could approve the appeal, reverse the conviction, or change the sentence.

Even still, in other situations, an appeal is not successful and the court upholds the original conviction and sentencing.

The question, “how often are appeals successful,” will be examined and answered later in this article.

What Does (and Doesn’t) an Appeal Do?

Before explaining the purpose and capabilities of an appeal, let us first determine who can and cannot file an appeal.

A defendant in a civil or criminal case has the right to appeal a guilty verdict. The government, however, does not have the right to appeal a defendant’s “not guilty” verdict. The government or plaintiff side of the criminal case may appeal the sentence imposed after a guilty verdict has been handed down.

That said, an appeal does not automatically throw out a verdict or change a determined sentence. Instead, an appeal reviews the way the court has applied the law in the case. Because it is not automatically a new trial, there is no jury, no witnesses, or new forms of evidence. The court simply examines the facts as they were presented, and determines whether those facts go against the evidence taken into account.

Once an appeal is complete, the result is most often final. That is unless the case goes back to court for another trial or the parties ask a higher court to review the case.

For What Reason Can a Defendant Appeal?

There are several common reasons for a defendant to appeal their case’s ruling, which could vary depending on the state in which the case is heard.

  • The facts and evidence go against the judge’s decision.
    Usually, a ruling is based on the evidence and facts established during the trial. If a judge does not rule based on facts and good reason, it may present a good cause for an appeal.
  • The judge has abused power.
    If a judge acts in a way that is beyond the court’s discretion and this action affects the judge’s ruling, it may be grounds for an appeal. For example, if a judge “weighs” one piece of evidence over another, and that weight is questionable, a defendant may be able to appeal the possible abuse of discretion.
  • The judge has committed a legal error.
    It’s possible for judges to make mistakes. If a judge applies the wrong legal standard to a case, such as using legal requirements for the wrong state, the defendant likely has a good reason to appeal the court’s decision.

Of course, there may be other factors to consider when determining whether a defendant has a good reason to appeal a case, but the above-mentioned reasons are the ones called into question most often.

How Often Are Appeals Successful?

The short answer to, “how often are appeals successful,” is typically, “not often.”

There is a good chance that an appeal won’t go in favor of the party making it, as most appeals are long shots.

It’s difficult to put a number on how many appeals are successful, but many court professionals estimate that fewer than one appeal out of 10 ends in favor of the appealing party.

When questioning, “how often are appeals successful,” it’s important to consider a few things about the nature of civil and criminal appeals.

Usually, appeals do not present enough information to change the outcome of the case, meaning that the appealing party fails to sufficiently point out any wrongdoing on the court’s behalf.

Generally, courts and legal professionals conduct cases in compliance with state and federal laws.

Therefore it is difficult to prove that the judge abused power, made a mistake, or went against evidence. Most of the time, he or she complied with the law to the fullest possible extent.

When considering how frequently appeals are successful, one should keep in mind that it’s not impossible for them to be successful. For individuals who are facing a significant sentence, it may very well be worth re-examining the facts and evidence.

When asking yourself, “how often are criminal appeals successful,” it’s good to follow up with, “how often do appeals qualify for approval?”

Some instances that result in a successful appeal include?

  • Misconduct from jurors
  • Poor jury instruction
  • Improper admission of evidence
  • Lack of evidence to support the ruling
  • Receiving poor legal counsel

If you’re wondering, “how often are appeals successful,” because you’re concerned about your own case, it’s important to work with your legal counsel carefully to ensure that you’re presenting viable evidence.

The court’s purpose during the appeal process is to determine whether errors were made during the trial, so it is in an appellant’s (the party filing the appeal) best interest to thoroughly present the information being questioned.

What Does a Successful Appeal Look Like?

In addition to asking, “how often are appeals successful,” you may want to ask yourself, “how often are planning appeals successful?”

Planning for success is crucial, as majority of defendants’ teams discover they do not have a viable reason to appeal.

If you want to achieve success, be sure to meet the following conditions?

  1. You have reliable counsel representing you (one who understands and has experience in appeals).
  2. Your attorney fully reviews the Record on Appeal (the more thorough the review, the more likely it is that valid evidence will be located).
  3. Your attorney prepares and files an appeal brief.
  4. In your case, your attorney lists errors that were made during the oral argument.

What is your conviction before the court?

Appealing your conviction and sentence before a court and hearing your attorney’s answer to, “how often are court appeals successful,” may make you feel nervous and discouraged.

An experienced appellate attorney will, however, identify any errors and present them to the court.

Appealing based on a good reason is very likely to lead to success in a small percentage of cases. Appeals can lead to a new trial or a changed sentence, but they do not guarantee them.

For more thorough, accurate, and informative answers to the question, “how often are appeals successful,” it’s in your best interest to speak one-on-one with an experienced appellate attorney.

By carefully going over your case, a professional can help you determine. Whether you have a viable reason to file an appeal. As well as the likelihood of succeeding during the process.

It’s always best to work with an attorney who understands the appeal process and knows how to present oral arguments during an appeal.

The appeal process is often a misunderstood and complicated road for a defendant to venture down. In order to present your case straightforwardly, you need an experienced appellate attorney.

SOURCES

https://www.justice.gov/usao/justice-101/appeal

https://www.womenslaw.org/laws/preparing-court-yourself/after-decision-issued/file-appeal/grounds-appeal/what-are-typical

https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/types-cases/appeals

https://www.justia.com/criminal/procedure/criminal-appeals/#:~:text=Potential%20grounds%20for%20appeal%20in,to%20support%20a%20guilty%20verdict.

https://theappellatelawfirm.com/blog/steps-in-a-successful-appeal/

https://www.lawfirms.com/resources/lawsuits-and-disputes/appeals/winning-appeal.htm

Speak with a appellate lawyer