I mentioned elsewhere on this site that your best bet is to get a good criminal defense lawyer for your appeal. Here's an example of why. The State actually appealed - in the case you can read by clicking here - to the Eighth District Court of Appeals. When the State appealed on one issue, the defense decided to cross appeal on another issue. But the defendant filed his cross appeal one day late. Just one day. So the Court of Appeals said that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the cross appeal and dismissed it instead. Get yourself a good criminal defense lawyer on appeal to give yourself the best possible chance at winning your appeal. You cannot win your cross appeal on the merits if the Court of Appeals does not have jurisdiction to consider it at all.
Appeal deadlines are no joke
October 8, 2009
