Suppose a criminal case has been heard at a state trial court and the defendant has been found guilty. The defendant and his legal team believe he has been wrongfully convicted and decide to appeal the case. Which court will the defendant and his legal team appeal the case to?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The defendant and his legal team would appeal the case to an intermediate appellate court, which reviews decisions made by lower trial courts. The U.S. Supreme Court only hears cases that have been appealed from intermediate appellate courts, and a claims court would not be appropriate unless the case involved a specific claim against the government. A trial court is the court where the case was originally heard, so it would not be the appropriate court for an appeal.

Suppose a Criminal Case Has Been Heard at a State