Your First Court of Appeals — The Nevada District Courts
Las Vegas Appellate Attorneys
In Nevada, the court in which your criminal case is heard depends upon whether the crime was charged as a felony or misdemeanor, and upon the location where the offense occurred.
- Municipal courts handle misdemeanor criminal cases involving domestic violence, drunk driving, misdemeanor drug charges, and assault and battery, as well as traffic offenses occurring with the city limits of incorporated municipalities.
- Justice courts also handle misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic violations, civil matters under $10,000 in value, as well as arraignments of people facing gross misdemeanor or felony charges.
- District courts handle felony criminal trials. District courts also act as the appellate court for municipal and justice court appeals.
If you are appealing a conviction from a case heard in municipal court, justice court or district court, you have only 30 days from the date of conviction for your lawyer to file a notice of appeal. If you miss the filing deadline, you lose your right to appeal.
Do not wait to contact an appeals lawyer. Let the attorneys at Ciciliano & Associates, LLC review your case to determine if you have grounds for appeal.
Contact Ciciliano & Associates, LLC online or call 702.487.3530 to arrange a consultation. We represent clients in district court, justice court, and municipal court appeals in Clark County and across southern Nevada.
The Fast Track or Full Appeal Process?
Most cases enter the fast track appeal process however, it would be an advantage for your case to go through a full district court appeal, your attorney can file a motion to have it removed from the fast track. These are the steps of a full district court appeal:
- Your attorney will file an opening brief stating your position about why your conviction should be overturned
- The state files a brief in opposition
- Your attorney files a reply to the state's position (in the fast track process, your attorney does not get to file a response)
- Your attorney and the state present oral arguments to the court
Depending upon the circumstances, a full appeal can take a year or more. In the fast track process, a decision is usually made in 90 to 100 days.
If you lose your appeal at the district court level, you can appeal that decision to the Nevada Supreme Court. The Supreme Court appeals process is similar, except that the justices will rule only on legal or procedural errors committed during the case.
We Worry About the Law So You Don't Have To!
For aggressive representation in a district, justice or municipal court appeal, contact our Las Vegas law office immediately. Call 702.487.3530. We will explain our fees and the costs of an appeal versus the potential gain and likely outcome. Our office is conveniently located on 10th Street near the federal courthouse in Las Vegas.
