Who can appeal a jury's decision in a criminal case?

In a criminal case, the defense is the party that can appeal a jury's decision. This right to appeal is primarily grounded in the belief that the defendant is entitled to fair treatment under the law and has the right to challenge a conviction if they believe there was a legal error during the trial that affected the outcome.

The appeal process allows the defense to argue that mistakes were made in the handling of evidence, jury instructions, or other procedural aspects that could have influenced the jury’s decision. Although the prosecution can also appeal in certain circumstances, such as when a trial is dismissed or certain rulings are made that inhibit their ability to prosecute effectively, the more common scenario involves the defense appealing a conviction to seek a reversal or a new trial.

While judges oversee the legal proceedings and can provide rulings on motions and procedural matters, they do not appeal jury decisions. Victims, although they have a significant interest in the case, do not hold the right to appeal the decision made by the jury; this preserves the adversarial nature of the courtroom and the rights of the accused in the criminal justice system.