How Do Federal Appeals Work?

How do federal appeals work? Federal appeals court reviews decisions to see if there were any legal errors. However, they do not retry cases or examine new evidence. 

If you have been accused of a crime, a Seattle federal defense lawyer can mitigate the damage and fight for your best interests. 

An Overview of the Federal Appeals Process

According to the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys, a panel of three circuit court judges, also called court of appeals judges, is the first to review an appeal. The parties on either side of the appeal file briefs with the court. Through the briefs, they present arguments for why the district court’s decision should be upheld or reversed.

Sometimes, judges decide cases based solely on written briefs, but many appeals cases involve oral arguments before the court. Oral arguments are structured discussions “between the appellate lawyers and the panel of judges focusing on the legal principles in dispute.” Each side is given a short timeframe of approximately 15 minutes to present its arguments to the court and address the appeals judges’ questions.

Understanding the Federal Appeals System

There are three levels to the federal court system. The first is the district court, where trials take place. The second is the circuit court, which hears appeals. The third is the Supreme Court. If a party loses an appeal in the circuit court, and there are grounds for an additional appeal, this final appeal is made to the Supreme Court.

Federal courts hear cases “authorized by the United States Constitution or federal statute,” as explained by the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys. If an offender is alleged to have broken a federal statute, they would be tried in federal district court and could appeal a conviction to the circuit court. 

Civil Lawsuits  in Federal Court

Plaintiffs in civil lawsuits can bring their cases to federal court under the principle of “diversity jurisdiction”  if:

• The plaintiffs and defendants live in different states 
• The claim meets a specific dollar amount

Most district-court case decisions can be appealed to the circuit court. You can rely on our team to deliver exceptional guidance and representation throughout the federal appeals process.

Federal Circuit Court and Who Can File an Appeal

The circuit court does not retry cases or hear new evidence. Instead, the United States Courts explains, they “review challenges to court decisions to determine whether the proceedings were fair and the law was applied correctly.” The circuit court can overturn a district court’s decision if it finds the trial court process somehow violated the losing party’s rights or made errors when applying laws.

For civil cases, either party can appeal a decision. Plaintiffs denied compensation can appeal, as can defendants ordered to pay a plaintiff compensation. For criminal cases, only the convicted defendant can appeal the decision. The prosecution–the government–cannot appeal decisions declaring a defendant found not guilty. 

There are twelve federal circuit courts in the country, with each court serving a particular region. States fall into different geographic boundaries. Washington State is part of the United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit along with Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Arizona, and Alaska.

Possible Outcomes for a Federal Appeal

A federal appeal can end in several ways. The court could affirm or uphold the district court’s decision. If the losing party does not appeal to a higher court, the U.S. Supreme Court, the case ends. The circuit judges could also dismiss the appeal, affirming the lower court’s decision.

The appellate judges could reverse the district court judgments and “remand” the case–send it back to the district court–for additional actions. The panel could also order a new trial or order the district court to modify or correct its original judgment.

If the judgment is reversed, the appellate court will usually send the case back to a lower court ( remand it) and order the trial court to take further action. For example, it could order the court to reconsider the case’s facts or accept new evidence.  The panel could also order the lower court to modify or correct its original judgment. 

Decisions by the Federal Court of Appeals

Most decisions rendered in the federal appeals court are final. Involved parties can petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision, and this Court can allow or refuse the review at its own discretion and according to guidelines established by the United States Congress. If the Supreme Court denies the review, the appellate court’s decision stands.

The United States Courts explains that federal circuit courts handle over 50,000 cases annually. At most 10% of these cases are appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court listens to oral arguments for fewer than 100 cases each year. 

How Our Team Can Handle Your Appeal

Our team can help if you have been convicted in the federal criminal court or if you received an unfavorable judgment in civil court. The trial court’s decision may have been flawed, and you may have grounds to challenge the decision through the federal appeals process. 

We count nine former prosecutors among our criminal defense attorneys. This prior experience working for the “other side” gives us unique and valuable insight into the criminal justice system and your rights under it, as well as flaws in the criminal justice system that could lead to an unjust court decision. From preparing for a criminal trial to appealing the trial decision, we can handle your criminal case. 

Puget Law Group also handles personal injury cases, which are typically pursued through the civil court system. You may have been hurt by another party’s negligence, but did not receive justice through the civil trial court. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you appeal that decision and fight to have justice served through a personal injury appellate victory.

Trust Puget Law Firm with Your Appeal

Getting an unfavorable decision in federal district court can make you feel hopeless. Do not give up on justice. Connect with Puget Law Firm. 

You may have grounds to appeal the trial court’s decision. Our team knows how federal appeals work. We will fight to uphold your rights, secure accountability from the legal system, and win your appeal.