THE APPELLATE PROCESS: STEP BY STEP

The following is a summary of the procedures for filing and perfecting direct appeals in the Eastern District of the Court of Appeals. It is intended to be both a logical beginning-to-end overview of the appellate process and a practical guide for the benefit of all attorneys and litigants practicing before this Court.

Generally, a party initiates an appeal by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the trial court that issued the judgment. Once the notice of appeal is filed, the party appealing, or Appellant, has responsibility for ordering and filing a record on appeal and then filing an “Appellant’s Brief.” Strict time lines govern these filings and the process can be complicated. If an appellant is representing himself or herself pro se, he or she is advised to retain an attorney if possible. While the staff at the Court can explain the appellate process and court procedure to litigants, they cannot give legal advice to litigants about their cases.