How Long Does a Federal Criminal Appeal Take?

If you need to file a federal criminal appeal, it is important to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney who is willing to put the required energy into your appeal. Fortunately, our legal counsel has successfully helped many people navigate federal criminal appeals and knows what it takes to make sure that your case resolves in the best possible manner. While there are many questions that arise about the federal criminal appeal process, one of the most common questions is how long the process takes. Many federal criminal appeals take one year or even longer, which is why people who are interested in proceeding through this process obtain the assistance of strong legal counsel as well as prepare for a battle that takes a significant amount of time. While appeals often take a long period of time, however, a person often only has a small amount of time in which to file an appeal, which is why people in this position should not hesitate to obtain the assistance of skilled legal counsel.

The First Steps of Filing a Federal Criminal Appeal

After a sentence in a criminal case, a person will file a notice of appeal. This notice will result in a court report ordering transcripts from the trial. After legal counsel obtains a transcript of the trial, the case will move to a brief stage during which time legal counsel will prepare a written account of the argument before the court. Once each side in the case files a brief, an appellate court will begin to hear the case.

Continuing Through the Federal Criminal Appeal Process

After an appellate court takes over a case, a person will likely have to wait a significant amount of time before learning what the next steps in their case are. This delay is because appellate courts have numerous options in deciding how to respond to the case. Another reason for these delays is that appellate courts often have lengthy records to review.

In some cases, federal appellate courts might decide that an oral argument is required, which can significantly extend the length of a case. During this complicated process, a federal appellate attorney can help keep you updated about the rate at which your case is proceeding.

After oral arguments, the appellate court judges will determine what should occur next. These judges might make a ruling overturning the case, could affirm the lower court’s decision, or could even remand the case to another court with accompanying instructions. In many situations, this might mean that a person can expect additional time in court before a decision is made.

Obtain the Services of a Skilled Criminal Defense Attorney

The appellate process often takes a significant amount of time, which is why it is important to obtain the assistance of skilled legal counsel throughout this process. Contact our law office today for a free consultation, during which our legal counsel will outline your various options in filing an appeal. Our legal counsel has helped many people navigate the federal criminal appeals process and knows what it takes to make sure that your case resolves in the best possible manner. Speak with the legal counsel at the Federal Criminal Law Center today for assistance.