SAN BERNARDINO CRIMINAL DEFENSE · SINCE 1974
Criminal Appeals in San Bernardino County
A conviction or sentence deserves careful review. Protect the deadline, examine the record, and find out whether a legal error can be challenged.
When the trial is over, the legal work may not be.
A disappointing result can leave you feeling unheard. The next step is a focused review: what decision can be appealed, whether the filing time remains open, what the record shows, and whether an error provides a basis for relief.
James M. Glick’s practice includes criminal appeals. His criminal defense experience dates to 1974. Contact the office to discuss the judgment, sentence, or order you want reviewed and the procedural history that led to it.
The goal is to identify a legally supported path forward. A direct appeal generally reviews the existing court record for legal error; it is not a new jury trial or a chance simply to retell the facts. Issues involving evidence outside that record may call for a different procedure.
Act on the deadline before debating the outcome.
California criminal appeal deadlines are short. For a typical felony appeal, California Rules of Court, rule 8.308 generally requires the notice within 60 days after the judgment is rendered or the appealable order is made. For a typical misdemeanor appeal, rule 8.853 generally uses 30 days.
Different proceedings, exceptions, and triggering events can affect the analysis. Do not use this overview to calculate your own final filing date. Ask counsel to confirm the applicable deadline immediately. A consultation request or email does not file an appeal or extend the time.
Appeal rights depend on the decision and the issue.
| Code section | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Penal Code § 1237 | Identifies criminal judgments and certain postjudgment orders from which a defendant may appeal. |
| Penal Code § 1237.5 | Imposes requirements for certain appeals following a guilty or no-contest plea or an admission of a probation violation. |
A plea does not answer every appeal question. Rule 8.304 distinguishes issues requiring a certificate of probable cause from issues that may proceed without one, including qualifying search-and-seizure issues and certain post-plea matters. The specific issue and procedural record must be reviewed.
A persuasive appeal starts with a precise record.
Potential review issues may include an evidentiary ruling, jury instruction, sentencing decision, or another claimed legal error. A useful evaluation considers preservation of the issue, the standard of review, and whether the claimed error warrants relief. Not every mistake requires reversal.
- Identify the exact judgment or order and the date it was entered or pronounced.
- Gather the notice of appeal, plea documents, minute orders, and sentencing paperwork.
- Locate available transcripts, motions, rulings, and information about prior counsel.
- Separate issues shown by the trial record from concerns requiring investigation outside it.
Depending on the issue and ruling, relief may involve further proceedings, resentencing, or another remedy. A successful appeal does not always mean dismissal or immediate release. Ask what a favorable ruling would actually change in your case.
Common criminal appeal questions
Can I appeal after pleading guilty?
Sometimes. The issue being raised matters, and certain challenges require a certificate of probable cause. Other issues fall within exceptions described in rule 8.304. Have counsel evaluate the plea, notice, and proposed grounds.
Can I introduce a new witness on appeal?
A direct appeal generally concerns the record made below. New evidence may require a different form of postconviction review. Tell the office what information exists and when it became available.
What if the filing deadline may have passed?
Contact counsel promptly with exact dates and documents. Do not assume an exception applies, and do not assume relief is impossible without a procedural review.
Do not let the filing deadline decide your case.
Call (909) 889-1446 with the case number, decision date, and any appeal paperwork. Ask the office to review availability and the next step promptly.
Call the OfficeGeneral California legal information, reviewed for this draft on October 13, 2026. The charge, facts, prior record, and law applicable to the case control the available defenses and remedies. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contacting the office does not establish an attorney-client relationship.