{"id":21319,"date":"2023-08-07T13:32:46","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T20:32:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/?p=21319"},"modified":"2024-09-19T08:46:41","modified_gmt":"2024-09-19T15:46:41","slug":"appeal-felony-conviction-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/criminal-defense-law\/blog\/appeal-felony-conviction-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Appeal a Felony Conviction in Arizona?"},"content":{"rendered":"
What You Need to Know About Felony Conviction Appeals<\/h2>\n
Felonies are the most severe type of crime in Arizona. These serious criminal offenses are generally punishable by more than one year of prison. They may also carry higher fines than petty offenses and misdemeanors. Felony crimes in Arizona range from arson and burglary to drug trafficking and murder.<\/p>\n
If you were convicted of a felony in Arizona, you may believe that you have no further recourse available to you. In reality, you have the legal right to appeal the court\u2019s ruling. The criminal appeals process in Arizona allows individuals who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime to appeal on the grounds that the guilty verdict was unjust.<\/p>\n
What Is an Appeal in Arizona?<\/h2>\n
An appeal is an official request for an Arizona court to review a defendant\u2019s conviction and sentencing. This review is completed by a higher court of law than the court that made the original judgment. In Arizona, this could be the Arizona Supreme Court or the intermediate appellate court. The former consists of a panel of five judges, while the latter is a panel of three judges.<\/p>\n
It is important to understand that an appeal is not a new trial or re-sentencing but rather a review of the proceedings that occurred in the lower court. If a defendant makes an appeal and it is discovered that the lower court made a mistake that was significant enough to warrant rectification, the defendant may be granted a new trial or re-sentencing that would take place once again in the lower court.<\/p>\n
What Might Be Grounds for Appeal in Arizona?<\/h2>\n
There are several reasons why a person convicted of a felony in Arizona may choose to appeal. This includes:<\/p>\n
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Dissatisfaction with the original trial attorney\u2019s perceived inadequacy.<\/li>\n
The discovery of new evidence that was not available during the original trial that proves your innocence.<\/li>\n
You believe that the trial was not properly handled by the judge, prosecution, and\/or jury, or that proper legal procedures were not followed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What Is the Arizona Appeals Process?<\/h2>\n
In Arizona, there are three primary ways that a person convicted of a felony can make an appeal in a criminal case.<\/p>\n
1. Direct Appeal<\/h3>\n
A direct appeal must be filed by the defendant within 20 days of receiving the sentence. While the appeal is pending, which could take months or even years, the defendant will most likely remain in jail or prison.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General is given a brief that presents the defendant\u2019s argument that the conviction was unwarranted or erroneous. After reviewing the information, the Attorney General\u2019s office will file a response in which the defense can file a reply. The case will then go to the Arizona Supreme Court or Court of Appeals where a panel will determine if the original sentence remains or should be reversed.<\/p>\n