State & Federal Appeals Attorney

Whether you want to appeal a Florida court decision or a Federal court decision, Tassone, Dreicer & Hill is here to help. We provide more than 50 years of experience in trial and appellate courts at both the Federal and State level. Our law firm has won appeals argued and/or briefed in:

• The Supreme Court of the United States

• United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit

• The Supreme, District and Circuit Courts of Florida

We have written and researched appellate briefs filed in Federal and State appellate courts. In addition, we have accepted appointments form the Eleventh Circuit for representation of defendants in criminal cases.

If you’re interested in appealing the decision from your court case, call The Law Offices of Tassone, Dreicer & Hill in Jacksonville today.

Florida Appeals Process

Trial courts are aimed to dispute facts and find the truth in the case. This is the most familiar type of litigation for most people. The appeals process is quite different from trial court.

Appeals courts don’t call witnesses or allow in new evidence. Instead, they aim to interpret and address the law and apply it to the facts found during the trial court case. The proceeding will revolve around the written briefs or arguments submitted by the parties involved.

The process of appeals in Florida involves the following:

• Notice of Appeal

• Preparation of the Record

• Docketing Statements and/or Disclosures

• Appellate Briefing (initial brief, answer brief and reply brief)

• Oral Arguments (optional)

• Appellate Court Decision

• Petition for Rehearing or Motions for Clarification

• Motions

• Petitions for Review

In the state of Florida, most appeals are heard by the District Court of Appeals. This will include any cases tied in Circuit Courts and final decisions of administrative agencies. The Circuit Court cases may include family law cases, civil cases involving more than $15,000, probate cases and guardianship cases.

Cases tried in the County Courts will generally be appealed by the Circuit Courts. The appellate decisions made by the Circuit Courts may be appealable in the District Court of Appeals, but this is only done in limited circumstances.

If the appeal is lost in the District Court of Appeals, it’s possible to appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court will only hear cases with specific circumstances, however.

Federal Appeals Process

The process of appeal at the federal level is the same as at the state level. However, the structure of the appellate system is a bit different.

The trial courts for the federal level are the United States District Courts. These courts hear the majority of federal cases. When your trial is lost at the District Court level, you have a right to appeal to the United States Court of Appeals.

If the case is lost in the U.S. Court of Appeals, it may be eligible to be appealed to the United States Supreme Court located in Washington D.C. This is done by filing a Petition of Writ of Certiorari.

The U.S. Supreme Court generally gets to pick and choose the cases they will hear, with a few very rare exceptions.

The cases the U.S. Supreme Court hears will often include federal legal issues where the federal courts of appeals are in disagreement, also called circuit splits. They may also be of great public importance or they may involve a lower court finding a federal statute to be unconstitutional.

When you’re ready to appeal your case, it’s important to hire the right appellate attorney in Jacksonville. It doesn’t matter if you will be appealing at the Federal or State level; you need the right attorney in your corner.

At Tassone, Dreicer & Hill, we provide decades of experience appealing court cases at both the State and Federal level. We will ensure your appeal has the best opportunity for the most positive outcome. Call our law offices today and find out if your case is eligible for appeal.