COLORADO APPEAL LAWYERS
Fuller & Ahern, P.C. offers a free consultation with one of our appellate attorneys to fully answer your questions about appealing or defending an appeal.
When a judge or jury makes errors that lead to an unjust outcome, the remedy is to appeal to a higher court who can review what took place and reverse any errors. You need an appellate lawyer who is skilled at showing how the court’s errors led to an improper result. Alternatively, if you won your civil trial and the opposing party is appealing, you need an attorney to defend the outcome and show why it was correct.
The appellate attorneys at Fuller & Ahern, P.C. have represented clients for their appeals from Colorado’s county and district courts to the Colorado Court of Appeals and on to the Colorado Supreme Court. We have the experience to win on appeal when the stakes are at their highest. Focusing on cases that protect individual rights, our firm handles complex appeal cases across a wide range of legal areas.
Stages of an Appeal
Notice of Appeal — The appeal begins with the filing of a Notice of Appeal, which must be done in a short period following either a criminal conviction or a final order in a civil case. Do not delay in contacting a Colorado appeals attorney as these deadlines must be met or you will lose your opportunity to appeal.
Designation of Record — After the filing of a Notice of Appeal, the record from the lower court will be designated for the appeal. This step ensures that all the evidence needed to show the errors in your case is presented to the judges of the reviewing court. The record includes the transcripts of all relevant hearings, as well as all other filings and exhibits in the lower court case.
Opening Brief — The Opening Brief is a detailed document showing the higher court why the trial court’s orders were in error. This document has a particular format that must be followed, and the arguments must be crafted for maximum persuasive effect on the judges. When selecting an attorney for your appeal, you should ensure that they have the skills to present your arguments in the most effective manner with the highest potential to overcome the trial outcome.
Answer Brief — The defending party on appeal will then file an Answer Brief defending the outcome of the trial. Their brief will attempt to attack and undermine your claims that there were errors that resulted in wrongful court orders or a wrongful criminal conviction.
Reply Brief — Lastly, the appellant files a Reply Brief to respond to the points raised in the Answer Brief and strengthen the arguments that would show errors justifying appellate relief.
Oral Argument — When appealing to the Court of Appeals, either party can request oral argument, in which the attorneys answer questions directed by the reviewing judges. These hearings are short and are not designed to simply repeat the arguments in the briefing, but rather to target specific questions of the Court in order to resolve any lingering issues that the Court may raise about the appeal.
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I was confused, scared and grieving. I sat down to interview a lawyer named BRIAN CLOSE, at Susan Fuller & Assoc. I instantly felt the professionalism and knowledge this man had in many aspects of law. Divorce, civil, common law and more. I want to say the comfort I felt by placing my case in his hands was an overwhelming relief as I moved through a very challenging divorce and civil suit. I was challenged at every angle. Brian never made me feel intimidated nor insecure in decisions I had to make. Brian Close always took the time to explain my case and covered every angle. At times I just wanted to give up and give in. He took the time to make sure I understood everything that I didn't understand. I knew his actions were in my best interest at all times. With that, I hung in there and the day my cases were settled, I was overwhelmed with relief and success. This was a direct result from working with such a professional. The entire firm welcomed me and I can't say enough about everyone at the firm who conferred on my case. Right down to the paralegals and front office. Thank you for making this chapter of my life safe and secure under your direction.- Tami P. -
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- Carol A.Great legal services were provided to my daughter and I during her dissolution of marriage, and a couple of related matters after that. Our Attorney, Brian Close, was fantastic! I could write a book waxing on about his expertise, and professional and kind demeanor. The office's supporting staff were always professional and helpful as well. It feels like the office works together to provide the help and legal support needed during difficult times. I am extremely grateful that we were able to be represented by Brian Close of Fuller & Ahern, P.C.!
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“James is very calm and wants his clients to feel at ease by providing expectations ahead of time.”
I definitely recommend the Fuller & Ahern law firm. From the beginning, James worked very hard to ensure my side was heard by the district attorney. He worked behind the scenes to help navigate me out of the criminal system. It is evident he has a lot of experience and is very smart. Facing any type of criminal charges is very scary and life-changing. Going to the courtroom can be daunting. James is very calm and wants his clients to feel at ease by providing expectations ahead of time. He assesses the situation and continuously works to ensure his clients get the best deal possible. Clients shouldn't expect a lot of face-to-face time but should be confident he is doing his job. I am so thankful for his help, expertise, and willingness to quickly take on my case.- Lauren L. -
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I reached out to James Ahern at Fuller & Ahern, P.C. for legal trouble I was involved in. I was inexperienced and needed direction. Once James became involved, he guided me through the legal proceedings and gave me advice and possible outcomes throughout our work together. James was a true professional while keeping a personal touch. I would highly recommend James to anyone going through legal troubles.- Mark M. -
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“So thankful I found this amazing law office! Brian Close is off-the-charts intelligent, I would actually say he is a genius at what he does.”- Mary A.
CRIMINAL APPEALS
If you or a family member have been convicted of a crime, and there were errors in your case, you should not delay in seeking an experienced Colorado appellate attorney to challenge your conviction. You may be able to obtain a new trial or other relief if constitutional rights or other legal rights were violated. Seeking appeal is a path to continue the fight for a just result after a criminal charge and conviction.
Fuller & Ahern, P.C. offers a free consultation with one of our appellate attorneys to fully answer your questions about appealing a criminal conviction.
A client’s rights can be violated at any stage of a criminal investigation and case, including the arrest, pretrial, trial, and sentencing stages. Our attorneys are experienced at locating these issues and raising them on appeal, with the goal of overturning a wrongful guilty verdict.
A member of our team will be in touch shortly to confirm your contact details or address questions you may have.
CIVIL APPEALS
Fuller & Ahern, P.C. offers a free consultation with one of our appellate attorneys to fully answer your questions about appealing or defending a civil appeal.
An appeal in a civil case is brought when one party or the other disagrees with the orders of a judge or the decision of a jury. The appellate attorneys at Fuller & Ahern, P.C. have brought and defended appeals on a wide range of civil actions. For many civil cases, appeal involves a money judgment. In family court cases, appeal may be sought regarding the allocation of marital assets and debts, maintenance and child support rulings, and orders regarding child custody. Other civil appeals may involve court rulings on permanent protection orders or findings of contempt.
In some cases, clients have obtained a favorable ruling from the court and must defend the orders from the other side’s appeal. In those cases, our attorneys demonstrate through detailed briefing the reasons that the trial court or jury was correct and why the decision should be left unchanged. If the other side has appealed your case, contact the appellate attorneys at Fuller & Ahern, P.C. to discuss defending the appeal.
In other cases, we are retained after a client has received a negative outcome in court, and our attorneys must search and analyze every legal error that may justify changing the ruling or ordering a new trial. If you have experienced an unfair outcome in court, contact the appellate attorneys at Fuller & Ahern, P.C. to analyze whether you may have grounds for appeal. An appeal is the way to challenge an unjust outcome in the trial court.