Salt Lake City Criminal Appeals Lawyer

Experienced Criminal Appeals Attorney in Salt Lake City, UT

If you are facing the reality of sentencing and a criminal conviction, the road doesn’t have to end here. Whether you are charged with a drug crime in Cottonwood Heights or a white-collar crime at your place of work in Millcreek, you may have the right to appeal your case to a higher court. Appealing, while often the right decision, can be challenging, and it is wise that you only proceed with the support and guidance of an experienced Salt Lake City criminal appeals lawyer. 

Blackley & Wingad: Local Appellate Attorney

At Blackley & Wingad, our attorneys have decades of local legal experience, and we are ready to put that experience to work in your case. Our firm is focused on strategy, thorough preparation, and has a track record of successful and proven outcomes. With unmatched trial experience, we can help Utah residents who are facing criminal convictions through every step of their case. If you are thinking of attempting to appeal a criminal conviction, we are able to stand by your side.

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What to Do Following Sentencing in a Criminal Case

While criminal arrests decreased in 2023 by 3%, nearly two million people are still incarcerated throughout the United States, and in 2025, filings with the U.S. Court of Appeals grew by 3%. If anything, these statistics should help demonstrate that you are not alone. If you believe you have been wrongfully convicted or want to push back on a conviction, you have options. Before you can go forward with an appeal, however, you need to take the following actions after sentencing:

• Act quickly. In Utah, you have 30 days to file your Notice of Appeal, so you must act quickly to hire an attorney who can begin collecting the information required to file.
  
• Request records. You will also want to request and collect all transcripts, docket entries, and exhibits that were involved in your original case and subsequent sentencing.
  
• Avoid making statements. At this time, you mustn’t make any statements regarding your decision to appeal and instead only engage in communication with your attorney. Do not, under any circumstances, try to post to social media or ask family members to do so on your behalf. Do not discuss your appeal with family members and keep all communications regarding your case between you and your lawyer. 

Most importantly, remember to speak with an attorney. You do not want to attempt an appeal on your own. At Blackley & Wingad, we are ready to walk alongside you and guide you through the entire process. 

Reasons to Seek an Appeal in Salt Lake City

Following a criminal conviction, you need to understand exactly how an appeal is defined. An appeal is not simply a trial redo. It is a completely different aspect of litigation that focuses on reviewing any possible errors that were made during the original trial. 

Unlike a district court, which works to assess evidence and the credibility of witnesses, an appellate court reviews the trial court’s judgments and rulings for mistakes made in regard to the application of the law.

There are several different reasons why an individual would want to appeal their criminal conviction in Salt Lake City. Typically, the most common reasons behind an appeal are connected to evidence and procedure followed in the original case. At Blackley & Wingad, we have helped clients with appeals based on the following:

• Issues regarding evidence. In a criminal trial, evidence plays a key role. However, evidence is also guided by a strict set of complicated rules. These rules govern how and when certain pieces of evidence can or cannot become involved in a trial. These regulations can apply to both real physical evidence and any testimonial evidence involved in the case.
  In certain cases, a judge may misapply a rule and allow evidence that should have been left out. For example, if the police have conducted an illegal search and seizure and gathered evidence in this way, then the evidence secured can be suppressed. You may have grounds for an appeal if the judge allowed this evidence to be heard by a jury. 
• Issues with criminal procedure. Criminal procedure can be overwhelming and tedious. There are a plethora of rules and so many steps involved in the overarching process that it can be difficult to know if any of your legal rights have been violated along the way. This is where your attorney can come in. The steps of the criminal justice system exist for a reason, and if certain steps are not followed, you may be able to file an appeal.

To offer an example, one of the most important procedural steps is selecting a fair and impartial jury of your peers. Attorneys may be tempted to select jury members whom they think will favor their side of the case. However, they are not allowed to select jury members based on reasons like gender, race, or religion. If you believe this has happened, you may be able to file an official Notice of Appeal.

If neither of these two reasons fit the nuances of your case, there may still be options available to you. For example, if you believe that at any point during your arrest and criminal trial, the police or the prosecutors involved somehow acted in direct violation of your constitutional rights, you may be able to use this as grounds for an appeal. This could include denying you the right to legal counsel or being questioned by police without first being read your Miranda rights.

You may also be able to appeal if your initial attorney acted with such a level of incompetence that you believe you were denied the right to a fair trial. Not every lawyer is on top of their game, and if you believe your attorney acted in any incompetent manner, then you may be able to appeal due to the ineffective assistance of your original counsel.

Lastly, keep in mind that you may have the ability to file an appeal if new evidence has come to light that was not available during your initial trial. This is a common occurrence in situations where the defendant was convicted in the past and, thanks to new DNA evidence, they have the ability to appeal. At Blackley & Wingad, we may be able to uncover new evidence that can be used to file an appeal. 

The Utah Appeals Process

For those who have been wrongfully convicted or who are not satisfied with the outcome of a criminal case, the appeals process can be a beacon of hope. To start the process, you need to file your Notice of Appeal. Following this action, your attorney can review your original trial and identify any possible errors made or grounds for the official appeal. They can then prepare a brief and submit it to the appellate court, where a judge will review the merits of the appeal.

Understand that the appeals process can oftentimes be lengthy and complicated, but when it comes to seeking true justice, the effort is worth it. 

FAQs

How Can an Appeal Lawyer Help Me in Utah?

Above all else, an appeal lawyer in Utah can listen to your side of the story. As soon as you retain their services, they can begin reviewing your original criminal trial to uncover the truth of what really happened and can begin collecting evidence that supports your grounds for appeal. They can also file your Notice of Appeal within the necessary time frame and represent you through all stages of the appeals process. 

How Much Does It Cost to File an Appeal?

The costs involved with filing and undergoing an appeal in Utah typically vary based on the complexity of the case, the number of issues raised for seeking the appeal, and the length of the original transcript. At Blackley & Wingad, when we review your case, we can provide you with an estimated cost assessment so that you can make informed decisions regarding your appeal. 

What Are Some Defense Strategies That Work in Appeal Cases?

In an appeal case, there may be a matter of defense strategies available to you. Depending on the circumstances of your original case, these defense strategies can include proving possible sentencing errors, highlighting the existence of flaws in the original jury instruction, or showing that a legal conflict of interest was present in the original criminal trial. 

What Happens if I Miss the 30-Day Window to File?

If your Notice of Appeal is not filed within the 30-day time limit, then the Utah Court of Appeals can lose its jurisdiction over your case. This happens regardless of how strong your legal argument or evidence is. For this reason, reaching out to an attorney as soon as your original trial concludes is essential. 

Hire a Criminal Appeals Lawyer Today

If you believe you have the right to a criminal appeal in Salt Lake City, you need to hire a criminal appeals lawyer from Blackley & Wingad today. Above all else, we are ready to protect your rights. Call our offices today or reach out to us online and request an initial consultation with our attorneys. The journey doesn’t have to end with a conviction.