A federal criminal appeal is a request for a higher court to review claims of error, typically occurs after a person is convicted and sentenced in federal district court. These appeals, often called direct appeals, are a legal opportunity to seek relief from possible procedural errors, ensuring due process.

Federal criminal appeals are heard by three-judge panels of the various U.S. Circuit Courts that cover 12 different geographic regions. For example, all appeals from federal criminal sentences and convictions which occurred in Denver are heard at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The three judges to hear your federal criminal appeals case will be assigned at random from the active judges in a given circuit.