APPEAL
An Appeal is the review the record of the trial court’s activities for legal error. The Court of Appeals does not consider new evidence or re-try the case. An Appeal is not another trial but an opportunity for the defendant to try to raise specific errors that might have occurred at trial. The record consists of the court reporter’s transcripts of statements by the judge, attorneys, and witnesses. If a Defendant went to trial, he or she may also have their attorney file an Appeal after sentencing if they believe the judge made any mistakes with their case. Once the judge announces the sentence, only in rare cases can it be changed.