My question is about AFTER she is convicted and sentenced: Ok, it's two parts really; first part is can someone appeal a verdict if they are sentenced to death? And would they be appealing the death sentence, or the guilty verdict? Or both? Also, who has to pay for an appeal? The defendant? Or is it paid for by the state, like her lawyers are?
TIA
The appeal, which would be automatic in the case of a death sentence, would cover both the verdict of guilt and the death sentence. The appeal is paid for by the state.
I hope you don't mind answering a couple of further questions on the appeal process. I was looking at a Web site of an Arizona Criminal Appeals Attorney and it explains that the various levels of appeals are Superior Court, Arizona State Appellate Court, Arizona Supreme Court, The Ninth Circuit Court, and finally the United States Supreme Court.
So my questions are:
1) At each level is another court case involved or is there just a review of the documents and/or proceedings of the original court case and it's proceedings?
2) Will Jodi only get one shot at each level or can she make repeated appeals at each level?
3) In a similar vein, should her appeal be granted at whatever level, can the state then appeal the granting of her appeal?
4) Who, for the State, would be in charge of the State's side of the appeal, i.e., does Maricopa County pass control of the case onto a higher (prosecuting) authority. (I'm assuming here that JM would not be the attornery to be responsible for representing the State at each new level.)
5) You said the State pays for Jodi's appeal - does this apply at each level or will there come a time when she must foot the bill for further appeals?
I'm 65 so chances are pretty good that I will not be alive when she is actually executed (obviously I am hoping for the DP) - I'm just trying to figure out how long I must hang around to feel rather confident on my way out that the ultimate justice for Travis Alexander will be served.
