Los Angeles Appellate Work Attorney

A criminal conviction might seem like the end of the road, but it isn’t always. If you believe the trial court made a mistake in your case, you could have a chance to challenge the result, and the Los Angeles appellate attorneys at Alimouri & Alimouri can help.

We approach criminal appellate work with the same care and focus we use in criminal trial preparation. Our team investigates the ruling or verdict in your case, reviews case law that might support a different outcome, and builds strong arguments to seek a change in your sentence or even have it overturned.

Reach out to Alimouri & Alimouri today for your fully confidential consultation with a skilled Los Angeles appellate lawyer.

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Damon Alimouri

Attorney & Founder

Why Choose Alimouri & Alimouri to Handle Your Criminal Appeal?

Winning an appeal takes more than disagreeing with a trial verdict. It requires a strong grasp of legal procedures, persuasive writing, and the California appeals process. Attorney Kate Alimouri leads our appellate practice and brings a knowledgeable, detail-focused approach to every case.

Ms. Alimouri and our team understand that your freedom and reputation are at stake during a criminal case. As co-owner of our family law firm with Damon Alimouri, she treats every case with the same urgency and care she would give her own loved ones. Ms. Alimouri guides clients through each step of the appeals process, explains options in clear language, and ensures our staff is available around the clock to answer your questions.

Here’s what one former client had to say about the difference we made in their life:

“From the very beginning, they were knowledgeable, professional, responsive, and genuinely cared about achieving the best possible outcome for me. They took the time to explain every step of the process, answered all of my questions, and helped ease a very stressful situation.”

– Jessica

Reach out to Alimouri & Alimouri today for your fully confidential case evaluation with an appellate lawyer in Los Angeles.

What Are the Most Common Grounds for Criminal Appeal in California?

When you appeal a criminal conviction, it’s important to know that appellate courts do not retry cases or reconsider evidence as trial courts do. Instead, they look for specific legal errors in the trial record. The following are common reasons for a criminal appeal:

Insufficient Evidence – Failure to present enough credible evidence to support a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt
Errors of Law – Misapplication of the law, improper jury instructions, or bad evidentiary rulings
Prosecutorial Misconduct – Improper conduct, such as withholding exculpatory evidence
Jury Misconduct – Violations of the court’s instructions or apparent bias during deliberations
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel – Failure to provide competent defense representation
Sentencing Errors – Imposition of sentences that exceed legal limits or ignore proper procedures

What Criminal Matters Can’t Be Appealed?

Not every aspect of a criminal case qualifies for appeal. For example, the appellate court system will generally uphold a plea agreement’s terms once a defendant enters a plea and knowingly waives certain rights, including many trial-related appellate rights.

Similarly, factual disagreements alone rarely justify an appeal. Without a specific legal error in the record, an appellate court won’t overturn a conviction over a simple disagreement with a jury’s verdict.

Some decisions, like certain evidentiary rulings, are up to the judge’s discretion and are rarely overturned on appeal. Appellate courts usually respect the trial judge’s choices unless there is clear evidence of abuse of discretion or a serious injustice.

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5-STAR REVIEWS FROM SATISFIED CLIENTS

“Damon Alimouri fought tirelessly for my case. It was an emotionally exhausting case with too many complexities involved but his strategic thinking and bold advocacy helped me achieve a favorable outcome. Exceptional service and results.”

— D.M.

“Damon is the real deal!! He is very knowledgeable, reliable, professional and has years of experience in various area of laws. He is passionate and energetic, and that’s ESSENTIAL when wanting success in the courtroom! … I had faced charges against me, and Damon significantly reduced my charges against me. Today as a client, I am walking more freely and happily as a person.”

— James

“Damon was phenomenal! He answers promptly and he is on top of your case. If you need someone truly on your side, he is the lawyer you need. He is honest and focused. I can’t say enough about him – he’s your man.”

— Marie

“Kate and Damon are a dream team! They helped navigate a felony case for my brother and they got it completely dismissed. … They are super honest and transparent but more importantly, on your side no matter what.”

— J.G.

How Does the California Criminal Appeals Process Unfold?

California’s appeals process follows a structured path with several distinct stages. A skilled Los Angeles appellate lawyer can guide you through each of the following phases:

Filing a notice of appeal within the statutory deadline
Requesting and reviewing the trial record, including transcripts and exhibits
Researching applicable law and identifying viable grounds for appeal
Drafting and filing the opening appellate brief
Reviewing the prosecution’s response brief and filing a reply
Presenting oral argument before the Appellate Division of the Superior Court or the California Courts of Appeal, depending on the offense
Awaiting the court’s written decision

Depending on the outcome, it may be possible to seek further review by the Supreme Court of California. An experienced appellate attorney like Mrs. Alimouri can assess your specific situation and explain your options.

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What Do Federal Appeals Involve?

Federal appeals address convictions that occur in federal court or that raise federal constitutional issues that state courts have already evaluated. These appeals go through a separate process, which involves the following:

Filing a notice of appeal with the federal district court
Ordering the trial transcript and compiling the record on appeal
Briefing the legal issues before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Presenting oral argument, if the court allows it
Receiving the panel’s written opinion
Petitioning for rehearing en banc or further review, if warranted

Federal appeals often involve complex constitutional factors, and a lawyer unfamiliar with those elements can put you at a real disadvantage in federal court. That is why having an attorney with a proven track record in state and federal appellate courts is crucial.

Can New Evidence Be Introduced During a Criminal Appeal?

Generally, no. Appellate courts confine their review to the existing trial record, meaning they don’t accept new testimony or exhibits. Appellate attorneys must base their arguments on what already occurred at trial, not on any facts that developed afterward.

However, certain post-conviction remedies, such as a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, may allow defendants to introduce new evidence outside the traditional appellate process under specific circumstances. These include claims of actual innocence or newly discovered evidence that couldn’t have surfaced at trial through reasonable diligence.

What Are the Common Types of Appeals in California?

The following are some of the paths for challenging a criminal conviction or sentence in California, including direct appeals and writ petitions.

Direct Appeals

A direct appeal challenges a conviction or sentence based on errors that appear in the trial record itself. This type of appeal can include the following:

Felony Appeals – These appeals typically go to the California Courts of Appeal and often involve complex legal issues and lengthy trial records.
Misdemeanor/Infraction Appeals – These appeals generally go to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court and tend to move more quickly than felony appeals.

Writ Petitions

A writ petition asks a higher court to intervene in a matter outside the normal appellate timeline. Defendants often use writs to raise claims involving new evidence, constitutional violations, or ineffective assistance of counsel that the trial record alone doesn’t fully capture. Writ petitions can also address urgent issues that can’t wait until a direct appeal concludes, such as an unlawful detention.

Can You Appeal If You Pleaded Guilty?

A guilty plea limits, but doesn’t always eliminate, your right to appeal.

Defendants who enter pleas typically retain the right to challenge certain issues, including the legality of a search or seizure, sentencing errors, or the voluntary nature of the plea itself. Some plea agreements also include explicit waivers of appellate rights, so the specific language of your agreement can play a significant role in shaping your options.

A knowledgeable appellate lawyer like Mrs. Alimouri can review the terms of your plea agreement and the surrounding circumstances to determine which options remain available to you.

What Are the Possible Outcomes of a Criminal Appeal?

An appellate court can resolve a criminal appeal in several ways.

For instance, the court may affirm the original conviction or sentence and leave the trial court’s judgment intact. Alternatively, the court may reverse the conviction, order a new trial, or send the case back to the trial court with instructions to correct a specific error. In some cases, the court may modify a sentence without changing the underlying conviction.

Each of these results can affect your future in different ways. As an experienced appellate attorney, Mrs. Alimouri can look at your case and explain what outcomes you can expect.

How Long Does the Criminal Appeals Process Usually Take?

Criminal appeals in California usually take at least a year to finish, and complicated cases can take even longer. The timeline depends on things like how long the trial record is, how complex the legal issues are, and how busy the appellate court is.

At Alimouri & Alimouri, we know waiting for answers can be hard on you and your family. That’s why we keep you updated at every step and set clear expectations from the start.

What Are the Deadlines to File a Criminal Appeal in California?

There are strict deadlines at every stage of the appeals process. Missing even one deadline could mean losing your right to challenge a conviction, no matter how strong your case is.

In most California criminal cases, you must file a notice of appeal within 60 days of a conviction or sentence. Federal criminal appeals have an even shorter window, typically 14 days from the entry of judgment.

If you think you might have a reason to appeal at the state or federal level, contact a Los Angeles appellate attorney as soon as you can.

Contact a Felony Charges Attorney Today

A criminal conviction does not have to shape your future. With the right appellate lawyer, you can challenge the government’s decisions and correct the record. At Alimouri & Alimouri, we understand the appeals process and are ready to fight for you.

Ms. Alimouri and our appellate team are ready to look at your case, explain your options, and explore every possible path to justice. Contact us today for a confidential consultation, where you can share your story and find out how we can help.

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Appellate Work Attorney in Los Angeles, CA