Appeal of Nevada Criminal Convictions
(NRS 177)
Las Vegas Appellate Attorneys
You or a loved one went to trial in Nevada. The judge or jury rendered a "guilty" verdict. The court imposed a long prison sentence. Is this the end of the story? Not necessarily.
We’re a Las Vegas law firm that represents people seeking to appeal Nevada criminal court convictions. We know how to comb through trial court records to identify where mistakes and injustices occurred. And we know how to present your case to the appellate courts in a way that gives you the best chance of getting the conviction and the sentence overturned.
In the article below, our Nevada criminal appeals lawyers explain the process...including where to file your appeal, deadlines, grounds for appeal and chances of success.
What is an appeal in Nevada criminal law?
An appeal is when a person who is found guilty of a crime, and subsequently requests a higher court to review the case. For example, if John is convicted of the Las Vegas crime of arson in Clark County District Court, he may then appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court. Because the Nevada Supreme Court would be the court presiding over the appeal, it would be considered the "appellate court."
A defendant may appeal a criminal conviction for any number of reasons including:
- the trial was unfair, and/or
- the guilty verdict was wrong, and/or
- the sentence was excessive
If the appellate court determines that the trial court’s verdict was indeed wrong, they may "overturn" the judgment and acquit the defendant. Or if they decide that the trial was unfair or that the sentence was excessive, the appellate court may order a new trial or a new sentencing hearing back in the trial court.
But if the appellate court finds that the trial court acted properly, the appellate court will "affirm" the judgment and the conviction stands.
Is an appeal like a new trial?
No, a criminal appeal in Nevada is simply a review of your trial. The appellate court looks only at the records and the transcripts of what occurred in trial court. Your attorney may not introduce new evidence or testimony during oral arguments or in your appellate brief (the document explaining to the court why you should win at appeal).
Are appeals the only way to challenge a criminal conviction?
No, there are various post-trial motions your Nevada criminal appeals attorney can file with the trial court requesting that they change its verdict or order a new trial. However, judges rarely overrule themselves, so appeals are usually the best bet to attempt to overturn a conviction.
Which court do I appeal to in Nevada?
It depends on which court presided over your trial.
If you were tried in a justice court or a municipal court (which means the charge was for only a misdemeanor in Nevada), then you may appeal to the district court in your county. For example, if you want to appeal a Nevada DUI conviction you got in Las Vegas Justice Court, then you may appeal to Clark County District Court.
But if you were tried in a county district court (which means the charge was for either a felony in Nevada or a gross misdemeanor in Nevada), then you may appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court. If that appeal is unsuccessful you can petition the matter further...all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. But they hear very few cases and chances are they will not entertain your appeal.
Finally if your case was in federal court (the United States District Court - District of Nevada), then your attorney may appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Failing that, your final resort is the Supreme Court of the United States, though, again, chances are slim they will hear your case.
How long do I have to appeal my conviction in Nevada?
It depends which court your criminal case was in: If your trial was in state court (district, justice or municipal court), your lawyer has thirty (30) days from the date you were convicted to commence the appeals process. If your case was in federal district court, then you have only ten (10) days.
If you’re convicted of a crime and you wish to appeal, you must seek counsel as soon as possible. If you miss your deadline to appeal, you lose the right to appeal!
How does the appeals process work in Nevada criminal cases?
Step One:
The first step is for your Nevada criminal appeals attorney to file what’s called a "notice of appeal" with the court in which your trial took place. This must be done before the deadline has passed (refer to the previous question for time limits).
Just like it sounds, the notice of appeal is a short document informing the Nevada court that you are planning to appeal your case. It also contains a "case appeal statement" where your lawyer briefly explains to the court your "grounds of appeal," which are the reasons you’re appealing.
Step Two:
Once the notice of appeal is submitted, the trial court will file your trial’s "record" (the transcripts) with the appellate court. At that point your attorney usually has 120 days to review the record and compose an "appellate brief," which is a lengthy document citing laws and past cases in support of your position and arguing to the court why you should win on appeal.
After your Nevada criminal appeals attorney submits the appellate brief, the state’s lawyer (called the "district attorney") will file "an opposition" challenging your arguments. In some cases your attorney may be allowed to submit a "reply brief" in response to the opposition.
Step Three:
Depending on the case, your appeals lawyer may be allowed to give an "oral argument" in front of the appellate judges to supplement the brief. The last step is that the judges in the appellate court will review the briefs and oral arguments (if any) and deliver a decision in the form of a written opinion.
What are grounds of appeal in Nevada criminal cases?
Grounds of appeal are all legal or factual errors that may have happened in the course of your trial and that could have influenced your case’s verdict and denied your Constitutional right to a fair trial. When appealing your case, your attorney will argue that you have one or more grounds of appeal and that you therefore should have your guilty verdict reversed or vacated.
Typical grounds of appeal in Las Vegas include:
- prosecutorial misconduct (such as the D.A. withholding "exculpatory" evidence that could’ve helped your defense)
- judicial errors (such as the judge permitting evidence that should’ve been excluded or vice versa)
- erroneous application of a law or regulation
- improper jury instructions
- ineffective assistance of counsel or other malpractice
- the evidence did not prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
How long does the appeals process take in Nevada criminal cases?
All appeals in Nevada are automatically "fast tracked" unless you were sentenced to life in prison or you specifically request a full-length appeal. Fast track appeals are typically decided within only three months; otherwise, an appeal can take over a year.
The downside of fast track appeals is that your "appellate brief" is limited to only ten pages and your attorney usually may not give an oral argument in front of the judges. However, the court may ask your attorney for a longer brief if they believe your grounds of appeal warrant a more in depth review.
Can I appeal my guilty plea in Nevada?
Yes. But note that these kinds of appeals are often unsuccessful because judges are less sympathetic to defendants who admitted their guilt via a plea than to defendants who always maintained their innocence and were then convicted by a jury. However, appealing a guilty plea is still an avenue worth exploring especially if the only reason you took the plea was because of bad advice by a lawyer or if you were mentally incompetent at the time.
What can I do if I lose my appeal in Nevada?
If you lose your appeal in the Nevada Supreme Court and remain incarcerated, you have one (1) year to file a "writ of habeas corpus." It allows a defendant to challenge their conviction and imprisonment by raising errors that occurred during the trial.
As opposed to appeals, writs of habeas corpus may introduce new evidence not raised at trial. But as with appeals, do not attempt to file a writ of habeas corpus on your own without a lawyer . . . if you make a mistake, your writ may get dismissed and you may not be allowed to file another.
Convicted? Call us to appeal . . . .
If after reading this you would like our Nevada criminal appeals attorneys to look into appealing your case, call us at 702-DEFENSE (702-333-3673) to schedule a free consultation today. We may be able to get you a new trial or your conviction reversed.
For more information also refer to our articles on: Clark County District Court; Las Vegas crime of arson; misdemeanor in Nevada; Nevada DUI; felony in Nevada; gross misdemeanor in Nevada; and appealing California criminal convictions.
- To learn about the appeals process in California, visit our page on appealing California criminal convictions.
