If you fought federal criminal charges at trial and got convicted, you can appeal your conviction to a United States Court of Appeals. Every state has a federal district court, in some states there are several such trial courts, but each region of the country has a federal appellate court. Sitting at the very top of the federal court system is the United States Supreme Court (which decides legal issues involving federal law, Constitutional issues and disputes between separate states). To learn more about the federal courts, click here. The purpose of the federal appellate courts is to correct legal errors made in the United States District Courts (federal trial courts). An appellate court has the power to set aside a criminal conviction if it finds the jury or the federal judge below made a mistake. Setting aside a jury verdict is exceptionally rare. The more common basis for setting aside a verdict is because the federal judge below made a mistake in applying the law. Federal judges are essentially referees or umpires and, because they are human beings like the rest of us, they are capable of making mistakes. Thus, it is not unusual for appellate courts to find a federal trial judge made a mistake and reverse a decision. Even appellate court judges can mistakes which is why their decisions can be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. Filing a federal appeal is a serious undertaking. It requires collecting and organizing all the evidence at the trial court level that supports the argument that an error occurred below and presenting it to the appeals court in an organized and persuasive manner. Following a conviction at trial and after a judgment has been entered, a defendant only has 14 days to file an appeal in a criminal case. This is an important deadline and the failure to adhere to it can forfeit the right to an appeal. Apart from filing an appeal, and if the time for doing so has already come and gone, another option for seeking relief post-conviction is a habeas corpus petition filed pursuant to federal law 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This type of petition can be used to attack a conviction and sentence on different grounds including ineffective assistance of counsel. In making such a claim, you must be able to show that you received such ineffective assistance of counsel that the representation changed the outcome of your case. These are not always easy claims to make or win but with the right attorney who has a thorough understanding of federal criminal law, they are not impossible. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Federal Defenders handles federal criminal cases (both trials and appeals) throughout the United States. With a combined total of more than 100 years of experience, the attorneys and investigators at The Federal Defenders know what it takes to win and achieve favorable outcomes for clients. Call us today at (800) 712-000 for a free and confidential consultation.