A person convicted may file a petition for review with a higher court on certain grounds (I.e., error of fact, error of law, etc.). This is usually considered an appeal as of right. The party can automatically bring an appeal to the appellate court by filing a notice of appeal. The higher court may reverse the decision of the lower court in part or in whole or may let the decision stand. In certain instances the higher court may send the case back to the trial court for further review.
Appeals made to the US Supreme Court require a loss at the federal court of appeals level and the filing of a Writ of Certiorari. These appeals are considered discretionary appeals in that the Supreme Court has the discretion to decide whether they will hear the appeal or not.
