When an inmate faces prison discipline such as solitary confinement, the inmate generally has no right to an attorney. The inmate is entitled to other due process rights, such as advance written notice of the charge and a written statement of the fact findings, evidence, and reasons for the action taken. See also prisoners' rights. Most states do provide the right to an appellate review of criminal convictions, to protect against trial court errors. However, many states limit their review of state court convictions by hearing only short oral arguments and issuing decisions without explanation.
Federal statutes grant criminal defendants in federal court the right to appeal.
Only one review is granted as a matter of right, and this is to a U.S. court of appeals. Review of state and federal convictions in the U.S. Supreme Court is discretionary. Where a criminal appeal is granted by state law as a matter of right, the court is required to appoint an attorney to represent indigent defendants on appeal. On appeal, the burden is on the defendant to prove that an error occurred in the trial or that the evidence was insufficient to convict. Transgressions by a juror can also be grounds for the reversal or vacation of a conviction.