On this page …

• Miscarriages of Justice - Your appeal against a Crown Court conviction

• Do I have an automatic right to appeal against my Crown Court conviction?

• What happens at the appeal against conviction hearing at the Court of Appeal?

• Quashing the conviction

• How do I appeal against conviction from the Crown Court to the Court of Appeal?

• Bail pending appeal

• Can I appeal out of time?

• What grounds of appeal can be relied upon?

• Can I appeal against conviction following a plea of guilty at the Crown Court

• Can I appeal against both my conviction and sentence?

• Are there any appeal risks? The 'Loss of time' order

• Can I abandon my appeal against conviction?

• Can I get new legal representation for my appeal? Due Diligence Requirements

• Appealing to the Supreme Court

• Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)

• European Court of Justice (ECJ)

• European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

• Further Information (Forms, Guidance, Rules and Practice Directions)

Miscarriages of Justice - Your appeal against a Crown Court conviction

If you have been wrongfully convicted in the Crown Court, you can apply within 28 days for permission to appeal against your conviction to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). 

If you are granted permission to appeal, the case will go to the full Court of Appeal who will overturn the conviction where it is considered to be unsafe.

An appeal against conviction can be commenced after being found guilty by a jury and, in more limited circumstances, following a guilty plea at the Crown Court.

This type of appeal is only available to the defence; the prosecution are unable to seek to overturn a finding of Not Guilty on appeal, except in some circumstances where a defendant is acquiited due to a legal ruling by the judge, or in the very limited circumstances where an acquittal has been achieved as a result of interference with or intimidation of jurors or witnesses.

This section concerns appealing against convictions in the Crown Court. If you were convicted in the magistrates' court and want to appeal, the procedure is far more straightforward. For more information, go to Appealing Against Your Magistrates’ Court Conviction >>

Do I have an automatic right to appeal against my Crown Court conviction?

Defence-Barrister.co.uk | Making Sense of the Criminal Courts