Criminal Lawyer specialising in DUI Offences, Conveyancing, Commercial Law & Wills and Estate Planning
Appeals Court
Proctor & Associates will advise you on the best course of action in order
to obtain the best possible result for you.
Should you find yourself needing to appeal a hearing or sentence,
contact us
immediately and organise an appointment.
An appellant has 28 days within which, to lodge an appeal. An appellant has a
further period up to a total of three (3) months to appeal, but after 28 days
must seek leave to appeal if lodged after then.
The power to lodge an appeal is provided in the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001.
Before lodging an appeal, a proposed appellant must decide whether he is going to appeal against both conviction and severity.
An appeal against Conviction is necessary where the magistrate has found you guilty but you still assert your innocence, declaring "I'm not guilty". In such circumstances you will need to lodge a "Conviction Appeal".
However, you might also have been sentenced and you feel the sentence is too harsh. In those circumstances you will need to lodge a "Severity Appeal".
So, in such a case as that above, you will need to lodge both a Conviction appeal and also a Severity appeal.
In a case where you have pleaded guilty to the charge before the magistrate and believe the penalty is too severe, then you need only lodge a "Severity Appeal".
Again, this must be lodged within 28 DAYS of the sentence date.
Section 5:
Grants the right of appeal in criminal cases but only under certain conditions. It states:
(1) A person convicted on indictment may appeal under this Act to the court:
(a) against the person's conviction on any ground which involves a question of law alone, and
(b) with the leave of the court, or upon the certificate of the judge of the court of trial that it is a fit case for appeal against the person's conviction on any ground of appeal which involves a question of fact alone, or question of mixed law and fact, or any other ground which appears to the court to be a sufficient ground of appeal, and
(c) with the leave of the court against the sentence passed on the person's conviction.
Clearly there must be a question of law, in respect of an appeal against conviction (a); law and/or fact if the trial judge issues a certificate (b); and leave of the Court granted for an appeal against sentence (c).
The lodgement of a Notice of intention to appeal must be carried out within 28 days of the Conviction or Sentence date. (s.10)
Licence and other Appeals to the Local Court
There are numerous administrative decisions made by Government bodies that allow for an appeal to the Local Court.
The more common of those appeals, are those associated with suspension of one's Driving licence.
Examples of decisions involving the suspension of driver's licence are:
1. speeding offences;
2. drink driving offences;
3. street racing;
4. burnouts;
5. demerit point suspensions for P plate drivers
There are also numerous other situations where people can bring an application to the Local Court seeking justice against bureaucratic decisions depriving them of their livelihood or other disadvantage. See article on Habitual Traffic Offender.
Proctor & Associates will advise you on the best course of action in order to obtain the best possible result for you. Should you find yourself in need of appealing a hearing or sentence, contact us immediately and organise an appointment.
Appeals from the Local Court to the District Court
Following a hearing or sentence in the Local Court, the accused person may appeal to the District Court as of right.
An appellant has 28 days within which, to lodge an appeal. An appellant has a
further period up to a total of three (3) months to appeal, but after 28 days
must seek leave to appeal if lodged after then.The power to lodge an appeal is provided in the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001.
Before lodging an appeal, a proposed appellant must decide whether he is going to appeal against both conviction and severity.
An appeal against Conviction is necessary where the magistrate has found you guilty but you still assert your innocence, declaring "I'm not guilty". In such circumstances you will need to lodge a "Conviction Appeal".
However, you might also have been sentenced and you feel the sentence is too harsh. In those circumstances you will need to lodge a "Severity Appeal".
So, in such a case as that above, you will need to lodge both a Conviction appeal and also a Severity appeal.
In a case where you have pleaded guilty to the charge before the magistrate and believe the penalty is too severe, then you need only lodge a "Severity Appeal".
Again, this must be lodged within 28 DAYS of the sentence date.
Appeals to the Court of Criminal Appeal
Where an appellant has been found guilty before a Judge and Jury in the District Court and protests his innocence, then such person can lodge a Notice of Intention to Appeal provided by the Criminal Appeal Act 1912.Section 5:
Grants the right of appeal in criminal cases but only under certain conditions. It states:
(1) A person convicted on indictment may appeal under this Act to the court:
(a) against the person's conviction on any ground which involves a question of law alone, and
(b) with the leave of the court, or upon the certificate of the judge of the court of trial that it is a fit case for appeal against the person's conviction on any ground of appeal which involves a question of fact alone, or question of mixed law and fact, or any other ground which appears to the court to be a sufficient ground of appeal, and
(c) with the leave of the court against the sentence passed on the person's conviction.
Clearly there must be a question of law, in respect of an appeal against conviction (a); law and/or fact if the trial judge issues a certificate (b); and leave of the Court granted for an appeal against sentence (c).
The lodgement of a Notice of intention to appeal must be carried out within 28 days of the Conviction or Sentence date. (s.10)
Licence and other Appeals to the Local Court
There are numerous administrative decisions made by Government bodies that allow for an appeal to the Local Court.
The more common of those appeals, are those associated with suspension of one's Driving licence.
Examples of decisions involving the suspension of driver's licence are:
1. speeding offences;
2. drink driving offences;
3. street racing;
4. burnouts;
5. demerit point suspensions for P plate drivers
There are also numerous other situations where people can bring an application to the Local Court seeking justice against bureaucratic decisions depriving them of their livelihood or other disadvantage. See article on Habitual Traffic Offender.
Proctor & Associates will advise you on the best course of action in order to obtain the best possible result for you. Should you find yourself in need of appealing a hearing or sentence, contact us immediately and organise an appointment.
Any opinions expressed by the writer in articles within this website are not
provided as legal advice, but simply an opinion in respect of the law as it
stands as at 23/02/2012. It is provided as assistance only
& should not be
interpreted as being legal advice for any particular case. Readers should
contact Proctor and
Associates or their own lawyer and obtain individual legal advice
for their particular case.
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Heavy Vehicles | Apprehended Violence Orders | Sexual Assault Charges | Murder & Manslaughter
Property Law | Assault Law | Appeals Court | Mobile Speed Cameras NSW | Conveyancer Parramatta
Website Design Sydney & SEO Australia by justweb®