Cobb County Appeals Lawyer
The Court of Appeals is one of the two appellate courts for State-level cases in Georgia. The majority of all criminal appeals are heard in this court, which is currently comprised of 15 Judges that normally sit in panels of three.
Cases Heard in the Court of Appeals
This Court has jurisdiction over all cases not specifically reserved to the Supreme Court of Georgia. All murder cases are heard in the Supreme Court, as are all cases not involving a challenge to the constitutionality of a statute. Thus, the Court of Appeals rules on appeals involving convictions for the following:
- traffic convictions
- DUI convictions
- theft convictions
- domestic violence convictions
- drug convictions
- fraud convictions
- weapons convictions
- sexual assault convictions
- child molestation convictions
Appealing Your Case in the Court of Appeals
Once a case gets docketed in the Court of Appeals, the appealing party (appellant) has 20 days to file its brief, although extensions of time can be requested. Briefs in criminal cases have a maximum page limit of 50 pages.
The opposing party (appellee) has 40 days from the date of docketing to file its brief or 20 days after the appellant's brief is filed, whichever date comes later. The appellant may then file a reply brief within 20 days of the appellee brief.
Oral argument must be requested within 20 days of docketing. The Court of Appeals does not grant oral argument very frequently in criminal cases, and any request for oral argument must persuasively explain why oral argument will aid the Court in its consideration of the case.
For all the specific rules regarding formatting of briefs and other filings, refer to the Rules of the Court of Appeals.