Are all cases argued before the appellate court?

No. The appellate court may choose not to entertain argument by either the defendant or this office and will advise the parties that no argument will be permitted. The appellate court decides the vast majority of cases on the briefs and records without oral argument. Following the submission of the case, with or without oral argument, the appellate court will issue a written opinion either affirming (upholding) the conviction or reversing (overturning) the conviction as to the guilt and punishment assessed against the defendant. Occasionally the court will only overturn the punishment assessed.

Show All Answers

1. What is a district attorney’s office?
2. How do I report a crime?
3. What happens when a law enforcement agency files a case with the Criminal District Attorney’s Office?
4. What is a grand jury and what does it do?
5. What is a plea bargain and how does the process work?
6. How can charges be dropped in a criminal case?
7. Can a witness refuse to testify?
8. When a case goes to trial, who determines if the defendant is guilty or innocent?
9. The defendant has been found guilty, now what?
10. Once the defendant’s punishment had been decided, is that the end of the case?
11. Are all cases argued before the appellate court?
12. If the defendant’s conviction is affirmed, may he seek other relief?