Utah Appellate Attorney | Lotus Appellate Law

Lotus Appellate Law is a boutique appellate law firm based in Utah, focused exclusively on appellate advocacy in the Utah Court of Appeals and Utah Supreme Court.

If you need a Utah appellate attorney for a civil or criminal appeal — or need to evaluate an interlocutory appeal under URAP Rule 5 — we handle the full scope of appellate practice.

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Choosing a reputable Utah Appellate Attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your appeal.

Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Appeals

An appeal is a formal request for a higher court to review a lower court’s decision for legal error. It is not a new trial — no new evidence is introduced and witnesses don’t testify. Instead, appellate courts review the written record and the parties’ legal arguments to determine whether the trial court correctly applied the law. At Lotus Appellate Law, we specialize in identifying reversible error and building the focused, persuasive arguments that appellate courts require.

The appellate process typically begins with filing a notice of appeal, which must be filed within strict deadlines — often 30 days after the final judgment. From there, the appellant must designate the record on appeal and submit an opening brief identifying the legal errors that warrant reversal. The opposing party then files an answer brief, and a reply brief may follow. Oral argument is sometimes granted but not guaranteed. At Lotus Appellate Law, we craft thorough, well-researched briefs designed to resonate with appellate judges and move the needle on the outcome.

Refer to our guide on the appellate process.

Not every adverse ruling is immediately appealable. Generally, you can appeal a final judgment — a ruling that fully resolves the case. Interlocutory appeals (appeals of non-final orders) are available in limited circumstances under URAP Rule 5 and require permission from the appellate court. Beyond eligibility, success on appeal requires identifying meaningful legal or procedural error that affected the outcome. We evaluate cases with candor — if an appeal is unlikely to succeed, we’ll tell you that too.

Appellate practice is a distinct discipline from trial work. It demands mastery of the written word, deep familiarity with appellate procedure, and the ability to distill a complex record into a compelling legal narrative. Many excellent trial attorneys find appellate practice unfamiliar — the standards of review, preservation requirements, and briefing conventions are all highly technical. At Lotus Appellate Law, appellate advocacy is all we do. That focus translates directly into sharper briefs and better outcomes for our clients.

Refer to What does an Appellate Attorney Do?.

The timeline varies based on court, case complexity, and briefing schedules. In the Utah Court of Appeals, most appeals resolve within 12–18 months from the notice of appeal, though complex cases can take longer. Utah Supreme Court cases — particularly those involving petitions for certiorari or original jurisdiction — may take two years or more. We keep clients informed at every stage so there are no surprises, and we meet every deadline without exception.

If you’re considering an appeal, act quickly. Deadlines in appellate practice are jurisdictional — miss them and your right to appeal may be lost entirely. Contact Lotus Appellate Law today to schedule a consultation. We’ll review your case, give you an honest assessment, and help you decide whether an appeal is the right path forward.

Our Team

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Cherise Bacalski

Founder, Appellate Attorney

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Craig Pankratz

Appellate Attorney

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James Duffin

Appellate Paralegal

Appellate Services

We provide the full range of services required to prosecute or defend an appeal in Utah — handled with the same level of analytical rigor and procedural precision regardless of case complexity or stage.

Learn About the Utah Appellate Process

Interlocutory Appeals

Motion for Summary Judgment

Post-trial Motions

Supreme Court Petitions

Post-Conviction Relief

Appellate Record Review

Expedited Appeals

Embedded Appellate Counsel

Appellate Topics

  • An appellate attorney reviewing a motion.
    • Firm Insights

    What Does an Appellate Attorney Do?
    By Cherise Bacalski • March 9, 2026
    If you’ve lost a court case — or won one that’s now being challenged — you may be asking yourself whether you need an appellate attorney and, more fundamentally, what an appellate attorney actually does. The answer matters, because appellate…
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    • Appellate Law
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    • Appeals
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    • Firm Insights
  • Working with lawyers in family law appeal
    • Brief Writing

    What does the rule say?
    By Cherise Bacalski • March 3, 2025
    When I first began practicing law, I found myself in the Attorney General’s office for the State of Utah. In the criminal appeals division there, Fred Voros was legendary. Fred had been the division chief for many years before taking…
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    • Plain Language
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    • Legal Writing
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    • Statutory Interpretation
  • Attorney studying legal documents at desk
    • Firm Insights

    Why is the Appellate Process so Expensive?
    By Cherise Bacalski • March 21, 2026
    Appellate fees often catch clients off guard — appellate costs reflects a fundamentally different set of demands than costs trial attorneys charge at the district court level.
    Read More
    • Appellate Law
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    • Firm Insights

Core Appellate Practice Areas

We handle appeals across a wide range of additional civil and criminal matters. Select any area below to learn more about the specific appellate considerations involved.

Civil Appeals

Criminal
Appeals

Uniform Public Expression Protection Act Appeals
(UPEPA)

Family Law Appeals

Medical Malpractice Appeals

Personal Injury Appeals

Professional Malpractice Appeals

Environmental and Land Use Appeals

Employment Law Appeals

Probate and Estate Appeals

Juvenile Law Appeals

Amicus Brief

Recent Utah Appellate Court Decisions