If a defendant in a criminal prosecution for DUI/DWI 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 Alaska, a defendant found guilty of DUI/DWI has the right to appeal the conviction or the sentence. The appeal process is not a retrial but a legal procedure to challenge potential errors made during the trial, such as the admission or exclusion of evidence, or the appropriateness of the sentence imposed. Appeals in Alaska are typically heard by the Alaska Court of Appeals as the intermediate appellate court. If a party is dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeals, they may petition the Alaska Supreme Court, which is the court of last resort. However, the Alaska Supreme Court has discretionary review, meaning it may choose whether or not to hear the appeal. Appeals are intricate and usually necessitate the representation by an attorney due to the complexity of appellate law and procedure.