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Appeals run on the shortest clocks in the federal system, and the first one is measured in days. The notice of appeal is due 14 days after the judgment. The main post-conviction motion runs on a one-year clock. Miss either one and most doors close, which is why this page starts with the calendar and works back to the strategy.
The 14-day notice of appeal. In a federal criminal case, the notice of appeal is due within 14 days of the judgment (or of the government's notice, if it files first). It is a short, simple filing that preserves everything. Protect the date first and work out the arguments second.
The one-year 2255 clock. A motion under 28 U.S.C. 2255, the main vehicle for challenging a conviction or sentence after the direct appeal, is usually due within one year of the judgment becoming final. Our Section 2255 page covers how the clock is counted.
The right vehicle. A direct appeal, a 2255 motion, and a 2241 petition do different jobs. A direct appeal argues the trial court made legal errors, on the record that already exists. A 2255 attacks the conviction or sentence itself, usually after the appeal. A 2241 challenges how the sentence is being carried out, like credit math, and is covered on our Section 2241 page. Filing the wrong one wastes the one real shot most people get.
After the notice of appeal, the case is briefed on paper. The appellant files an opening brief, the government answers, and a reply follows. Most federal appeals are decided on the briefs, with oral argument in a minority of cases. The court of appeals can affirm, reverse, or send the case back to the district court with instructions. Timelines vary, but families should expect the process to take months, not weeks, and every deadline inside it is set by the court's rules.
Plenty of families track and prepare an appeal themselves with the right paperwork in hand. Our Federal Criminal Appeals line was built for that:
Federal Criminal Appeals Guide - $39. How a federal appeal moves, what the deadlines are, and what the court can and cannot do, explained in plain language.
Federal Criminal Appeals Toolkit - $79. The guide plus the working documents: a deadline tracker, a record checklist, and filing worksheets.
Federal Criminal Appeals Complete Bundle - $89 (BEST VALUE). The full guide and the full toolkit in one package, the explanation and the working documents together.
The consultation is free. If hands-on support fits your situation, we send a written quote with a fixed total price before any work starts. A deposit of 50% of the quoted fee reserves your matter. You may cancel before work begins and receive a full refund of the deposit. Work begins when our team opens your file and starts research or document preparation after the deposit is received. Once work begins, the deposit is non-refundable, because that time is spent on your matter and cannot be recovered. The remaining balance is due as stated in your written agreement. Digital products are covered by the Digital Product Terms: if a file cannot be opened or is corrupted, we will replace it or refund it.
Not always. The district court may extend the time or reopen it in narrow circumstances, including a short window for excusable neglect or good cause, and a separate reopening rule when a party never received notice of the judgment. The windows are short and fact-specific. This is the one situation where you should talk to a licensed attorney the same day you realize the date passed. A lawyer can tell you whether any of those windows is still open in your case.
A direct appeal is decided on the record from the trial court, so new evidence generally cannot be added there. Claims that depend on evidence outside the record, including most ineffective assistance claims, usually belong in a 2255 motion instead. Choosing the right vehicle for each claim is most of the strategy.
An appeal goes to the court of appeals and argues the district court made legal mistakes, right after sentencing. A 2255 is filed in the district court after the appeal, and argues the conviction or sentence itself is unlawful, for example because counsel was ineffective or the sentence exceeds what the law allows. Many cases use both, in that order.
Pro Se Help, LLC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We provide legal research and document support for people representing themselves.