Civil Appeals Case Evaluation
Evaluating the appellate merits of a potential appeal is fundamental to advising a client well, and the client making an informed decision about whether or not to pursue an appeal. The evaluation includes not only reviewing the transcripts of the trial court proceedings but also researching the possible issues that could occur whether weak or strong. The process also includes being familiar with the outlook of the particular judges who may be assigned to the client’s panel (in the case of courts of appeal), or the justices currently serving (in a supreme court case), based on previous opinions.
Civil Appeals Requirements
A client may have the right to appeal, but perfecting that right is something else altogether. Each appellate court has its own, unique rules about filing and format. Any violation of these requirements can result in delay or dismissal of the appeal. To ensure the success of the merits, assuming the appellate court actually gets to the merits, includes a thorough familiarity with the myriad of changing technical requirements (including E-Filing in the federal court system). This is vital to perfecting the appeal for consideration. If a party’s written arguments or briefs are not properly prepared and filed, the appellate court will not read them. If a party’s brief is not filed timely, that party may lose the ability to make oral arguments to the appellate court in addition to their brief.
