CASE 15.2 Criminal appeals are generally routine because they seldom raise meritorious issues (Primus, 2007; Wold & Caldeira, 1980). Current standards of effective assistance of counsel often force lawyers to appeal, no matter how slight the odds of appellate court reversal. As a result, a significant number of criminal appeals lack substantial merit. For example, of the roughly 10,000 written dispositions in criminal appeals filed by defendants in the California Court of Appeals between 2013 and 2014, the court reversed only about 880 (9 percent) convictions (Judicial Council of California, 2015). Why do criminal appeals rarely succeed? First, the appellate standards of review applicable to most decision-making during criminal trials are highly deferential to trial court outcomes
(Primus, 2007). Second, appellate courts often find that no reversible error was committed during the trial court proceedings. Given the information provided, which of the following statements is true?
A. The rules of appeals are designed not to disturb the results of a criminal trial unless a serious, reversible error has occurred.
B. The rules of appeals are designed not to disturb the results of a criminal trial unless any error has occurred.
C. The rules of appeals are designed not to disturb the results of a criminal trial unless no error has occurred.
D. The rules of appeals are designed to disturb the results of a criminal trial.
Answer: A
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