Criminal Appeals
Convicted? Received a severe sentence? This is not the end
Every defendant has one appeal as of right: a judgment of the Magistrate's Court is appealed to the District Court, and a judgment of the District Court to the Supreme Court. It is possible to appeal the verdict itself, the sentence, or both. The prosecution may also appeal, whether against an acquittal or against the leniency of the sentence.
The deadline: 45 days, with no forgiveness
An appeal must be filed within 45 days from the date of the judgment. A delay requires a request for an extension of time, which is not self-evident. The practical meaning: the decision whether to appeal must be made quickly, preferably with the support of an opinion from a lawyer who reads the judgment with a critical eye, even if they did not represent in the first instance. A fresh external perspective often identifies grounds that were missed.
What is actually appealed?
The appellate instance does not conduct the trial anew, and it rarely intervenes in findings of fact and credibility. The strong grounds for appeal are: legal errors in the verdict; a conviction based on an insufficient evidentiary foundation; procedural defects that prejudiced the defense; case law that contradicts binding precedents; and an extreme deviation from the prevailing sentencing policy in the sentence. A winning appeal is built on a surgical analysis of the judgment and the trial transcript, not on repeating arguments that were rejected.
Representation in criminal appeals
Israel Arama, former member of the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office, analyzes judgments and handles criminal appeals, including requests to stay execution of a sentence pending the decision on the appeal. Received a judgment? Time is limited. Contact us immediately to examine the grounds for appeal.
Convicted? Received a severe sentence? This is not the end — what is important to know?
Every defendant has one appeal as of right: a judgment of the Magistrate's Court is appealed to the District Court, and a judgment of the District Court to the Supreme Court. It is possible to appeal the verdict itself, the sentence, or both. The prosecution may also appeal, whether against an acquittal or against the leniency of the sentence.
The deadline: 45 days, with no forgiveness — what is important to know?
An appeal must be filed within 45 days from the date of the judgment. A delay requires a request for an extension of time, which is not self-evident. The practical meaning: the decision whether to appeal must be made quickly, preferably with the support of an opinion from a lawyer who reads the judgment with a critical eye, even if they did not represent in the first instance. A fresh external perspective often identifies grounds that were missed.
What is actually appealed?
The appellate instance does not conduct the trial anew, and it rarely intervenes in findings of fact and credibility. The strong grounds for appeal are: legal errors in the verdict; a conviction based on an insufficient evidentiary foundation; procedural defects that prejudiced the defense; case law that contradicts binding precedents; and an extreme deviation from the prevailing sentencing policy in the sentence. A winning appeal is built on a surgical analysis of the judgment and the trial transcript, not on repeating arguments that were rejected.
This information is for initial orientation about the service and contact process. It is not individual legal advice.
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