If a defendant in a criminal prosecution is found guilty, the defendant can appeal the conviction (finding of guilt) or the sentence (punishment such as jail or prison, restitution, community service, probation, etc.). An appeal is not another trial—it is an opportunity to raise specific errors that might have occurred at trial. For example, a convicted defendant might claim on appeal that the judge made an incorrect ruling on an important question such as whether to exclude or suppress certain evidence, or whether to impose a certain sentence or punishment.

Appeals are complex processes and generally require the expertise of a licensed lawyer. On appeal a conviction may be reversed, a sentence may be altered, or the case may be sent back to the trial court for a new trial or a new sentence.

There are generally two potential levels of appellate review following a defendant’s conviction in a state court or federal trial court—an intermediate court (often called the court of appeals) and the highest court, or court of last resort (often the supreme court). Although a defendant usually has an automatic right to appeal a final conviction to the intermediate court of appeals, in many jurisdictions the highest court has discretion on whether to accept an appeal to review a case—known as discretionary review.

In Georgia, a defendant who has been found guilty in a criminal prosecution has the right to appeal both the conviction and the sentence. The appeal process is not a retrial but an opportunity to challenge legal errors that may have occurred during the trial, such as improper evidence rulings or sentencing decisions. Appeals in Georgia typically proceed through a two-tiered system. The first level is the Georgia Court of Appeals, where defendants generally have an automatic right to have their appeal heard. If the defendant is not satisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeals, they can request the Georgia Supreme Court to review the case. However, the Georgia Supreme Court has discretionary power to decide whether to take the case. Appeals are legally complex and usually require the representation of an attorney who is experienced in appellate law. The outcomes of an appeal can include reversal of the conviction, modification of the sentence, or a remand to the trial court for a new trial or resentencing.