What Role Does the Federal Court System Play in Adjudicating Federal Criminal Cases in Nashville, including Appeals and Post-Conviction Remedies?

If you have committed a crime that violates federal law, your case will be heard in federal court. In the federal system, your case will first be heard by a district court. If you lose your case, there is a hierarchy of courts that will hear your appeal, including the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court (with cases taken at their discretion).

In this article, our Nashville federal crime lawyers discuss the trial and appeals process in the federal court system and when a convicted defendant may be able to challenge the validity of their confinement.

The Role of the Federal Court

While Congress is responsible for passing bills and the President signs them into law, the court’s role is to interpret laws. However, the court’s interpretation of existing laws can create laws based on the judge’s decisions, known as case law.

Federal courts hear a variety of criminal and civil cases, including matters concerning constitutional law, disputes between two or more states, maritime law, bankruptcy law, and crimes that violate federal statutes or federal regulations.

District Court

Nashville federal cases are tried in the United States District Court for The Middle District of Tennessee. There are 94 federal district courts, or trial courts, in the United States, with Tennessee housing three federal district courts. The district courts include a judge and a jury who will hear your case and issue a verdict. Since bankruptcy concerns federal law, bankruptcy petitions can only be filed in federal court.

U.S. Court of Appeals

If you lose your case, you may decide to appeal to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The person who appeals is known as the petitioner. There are 13 circuit courts of appeals in the United States, with Tennessee being part of the Sixth Circuit. The Tennessee Circuit Court of Appeals is comprised of 12 judges, with three judges presiding over one case at any given time.

Not everybody is eligible for an appeal. To qualify, you must show that there was a legal or procedural error at the trial court level, with this issue being significant enough to affect the outcome of your case. In a criminal case, only the defendant can appeal; the government does not reserve that right.

The Appellate Court will not hear new evidence, and no witnesses will testify. Rather, the Court will review the trial court procedures and rulings to determine if an error was made. Before the hearing, each side will submit a written argument, called a brief, to the court. Each side will deliver an oral argument, further defending their legal perspectives.

U.S. Supreme Court

Of the 7,000 petitioners who appeal to the Supreme Court, the Court only hears between 100 to 150 cases annually. A party that is interested in having the Supreme Court hear their case will file a petition for a writ of certiorari. If four judges agree to review your case (known as the “Rule of Four”), then the Supreme Court will grant your request to hear your appeal. Similar to the Circuit Court of Appeals, each side will submit a brief and prepare oral arguments to be delivered in court.

Habeas Corpus

After being convicted or sentenced, a person may challenge the validity of the conviction, known as habeas corpus. In issuing a writ of habeas corpus, the court requests that the U.S. Marshal or Deputy U.S. Marshal bring a federal prisoner before a judge concerning their incarceration. If a judge determines that a person’s detention is unlawful, which may be due to ineffective counsel or if the prisoner was deprived of due process, then the prisoner may be released from custody, or the existing sentence may be modified or reduced.

Consult with a Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

Federal court procedures vary drastically from state court, requiring that you work with a lawyer who has a thorough understanding of the various nuances. At Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC, our Nashville federal crime attorneys know federal law and the protocols that must be adhered to when trying a case in federal court. To learn how we can be of assistance to you, contact us online or by phone today.