In most states, a person who has been convicted of a crime can file a petition with the next higher court, called an intermediate or appellate court. The appellate court then considers the appeal, and responds to the person filing for an appeal informing them of whether the appeal will be heard. In those states, the appeal must be prepared, whether or not it will be heard. Conversely, Wisconsin is a mandatory appeal state. Any person convicted of a crime is entitled to file an appeal and to be heard by the appellate court. The mandatory appeal rights of Wisconsin eliminate the period of time that a person must wait to hear whether his or her appeal will be heard, but they do not eliminate very strict time lines in which an appeal must be followed, nor do they eliminate the appellate court’s strict guidelines regarding the type of information that must be filed and the manner in which it must be filed. Strict Appellate Court Guidelines
Whether you were convicted in a state court or a federal court, the appellate courts provide very strict guidelines regarding the format of the information submitted to them and the type of information they require. Through years of experience, an achieved appellate attorney becomes acquainted with the appellate court’s preferences, as well as their strict guidelines, so that they are able to provide their clients with the best possible advantages throughout the appellate process.