Appellate Litigation

While an appeal follows an adverse ruling or judgment in the trial court, it is not merely a continuation of the trial court proceedings. Instead, it is based on a review of the specific evidence the trial court considered, the transcript(s) of the trial or hearing, and the written briefs filed by your appellate counsel. The standards and presumptions applied by the appellate court are very different than those used by the trial court. Appellate cases are reviewed and heard by at least three justices, each of whom has more time and resources than a typical superior court judge has available. For these reasons, it is important to hire an attorney who is familiar with appeals and the rules that govern them. Counsel at Wakefield & Associates have prepared and argued dozens of writs and appeals over the last 10 years. We have the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively litigate in the appellate court.