Broadly speaking, Virginia has three courts where the decision of a lower court can be appealed and I have a long history of practice in all three.
The Virginia Supreme Court is our court of last resort. Any final decision of a trial court can be appealed but appeals in civil cases are discretionary and are infrequently granted. The Court uses a procedure known as certiorari to review petitons for appeal and to decide whether or not to review a case on appeal.
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The Virginia Court of Appeals is our intermediate appellate court. Since January 1, 2022, the court has provided an appeal of right from any final decision in civil cases. This expanded jurisdiction is one of the most significant changes in civil procedure in decades.
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Although not generally regarded as appellate courts, local circuit courts provide a means to appeal decisions by a general district court and a review process for challenging decisions of most state and local agencies.
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At the federal level, district court cases can be appealed as a matter of right to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond and ultimately to the United States Supreme Court.
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Any appeal is a serious matter that requires experience and familiarity with the appellate process. I have been fortunate enough to practice extensively in all of these courts and can help with an appeal even in cases where I have not appeared as trial counsel.
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Please call or email me to see if I can help you.
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It ain't over 'til it's over.
