Michigan Court of Appeals

If You Plan to File an Appeal with the Court of Appeals, Hire One of Our Experienced Appellate Lawyers

Filing appeals and post-conviction motions requires the special skills and understanding of an experienced appellate law firm that is familiar with the court procedures and case progress in various jurisdictions.

Attorney Scott Grabel has experience working for the Michigan Court of Appeals and has more than ten years of experience successfully handling appeals cases for people convicted of federal and state crimes throughout the state of Michigan. Criminal appeals are highly specialized and need a criminal defense firm that understands the intricacy of how to identify high quality issues on behalf of clients and argue for them in the most aggressive and persuasive fashion to convince appellate court to lower the court’s decision. Scott Grabel has also been asked to speak as an expert on Court TV’s Best Defense.

To arrange for a free consultation to discuss filing an appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals, call us toll free at 1-800-342-7896 or email our law firm today.

At our firm, your future is always worth fighting for. There is a statute of limitations for filing an appeal, so the sooner you call, the sooner we can help you.

About the Court of Appeals

The Michigan Court of Appeals is an "intermediate" appellate court between the Supreme Court and the Michigan trial courts. Appellate court decisions are often published, which means they become part of the overall body of law in the state and can be relied on as examples for other cases. For this reason, you need a qualified appellate lawyer to handle the submission of your appeal because simply making an appeal does not mean you will be granted one.  How your appeal is presented to the court is critical in getting your case accepted for review or reconsideration by any appellate court.

There are three trial courts in Michigan:

• Circuit Court;
• District Court (including four municipal courts); and
• Probate Court.

Different courts handle appeals as follows:

• The circuit court acts as the appellate court for district courts.
• The Court of Appeals acts as the appellate court for circuit court and probate court hearings.
• The Michigan Supreme Court acts as the appellate court for the Court of Appeals and is responsible for the operations of the trial courts.

Appeals Made to the Court of Appeals

The federal court system has 94 U.S. judicial districts that are organized into twelve regional circuits, and each has a United States court of appeals. A court of appeals hears appeals from the district courts located within its circuit, as well as appeals from decisions of federal administrative agencies. The Michigan Court of Appeals serves as the appellate court for circuit court and probate court cases.

The Michigan Court of Appeals is comprised of six judges who are elected for six-year terms. Court of Appeals hearings are held in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Marquette before a panel of three Court of Appeals judges. If a unanimous ruling cannot be agreed upon, the decision rests with the majority—at least two of the three judges must agree on the ruling.

The panel of judges is rotated regularly so that a variety of judicial opinions are considered. Decisions made by the Court of Appeals are considered final unless the Michigan Supreme Court grants discretionary review of the decision or certiorari (a type of writ seeking judicial review).

An appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals can be filed in any of the following four district courts:

• First District, Cadillac Place, 3020 West Grand Boulevard, Suite 14-300, Detroit, MI 48202-6020 | PH: 313-972-5678
• Second District, Columbia Center, 201 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 800, Troy, MI 48084-4127 | PH: 248-524-8700
• Third District, State of Michigan Building, 350 Ottawa, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2349 | PH: 616-456-1167
• Fourth District, 2nd Floor, Hall of Justice, 925 West Ottawa St., P. O. Box 30022, Lansing, MI 48909-7522 | PH: 517-373-0786

More Information About Michigan Appeals

• Where do I file an appeal?
• First Steps in Filing an Appeal
• Filing an Appeal of Right
• Filing an Appeal of Application for Leave
• Michigan Court of Appeals Website
• Federal Appeals
• Michigan Supreme Court Appeals Information
• Michigan Court of Appeals Information
• Michigan Circuit Court Appeals Information
• Penalty and Sentence Appeals
• Post-Conviction Services

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