Criminal Appeal Brief

CRIMINAL APPEAL BRIEF

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

SUPREME COURT

Case No. [________]-[________]-CR

THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

v.

[DEFENDANT FULL NAME]

ON APPEAL FROM THE [________________] SUPERIOR COURT / [________________] CIRCUIT COURT
DOCKET NO. [________________]

BRIEF OF [DEFENDANT-APPELLANT / STATE-APPELLEE]

Submitted by:

[ATTORNEY NAME], N.H. Bar No. [________]
[FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY], New Hampshire [ZIP]
Telephone: [________________]
Email: [________________]

Attorney for [APPELLANT / APPELLEE]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Statutes

Constitutional Provisions

QUESTIONS PRESENTED

1. [________________________________]

Preserved at: [Tr. __; Record __]

2. [________________________________]

Preserved at: [Tr. __; Record __]

3. [________________________________]

Preserved at: [Tr. __; Record __]

STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS

Procedural History

The defendant, [DEFENDANT NAME], was charged by [complaint / indictment] with [OFFENSE(S)] in violation of RSA [SECTION(S)] in the [COURT].

On [DATE], [a jury / the court] [convicted / acquitted] the defendant of [CHARGE(S)]. (Tr. [__])

On [DATE], the court sentenced the defendant to [SENTENCE]. (Record [__])

A notice of appeal was timely filed on [DATE]. (Record [__])

Statement of Facts

[________________________________]

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT

[________________________________]

ARGUMENT

I. [QUESTION PRESENTED RESTATED]

Standard of Review

[________________________________]

Argument

[________________________________]

II. [QUESTION PRESENTED RESTATED]

Standard of Review

[________________________________]

Argument

[________________________________]

III. [QUESTION PRESENTED RESTATED]

Standard of Review

[________________________________]

Argument

[________________________________]

CONCLUSION

WHEREFORE, the [Defendant-Appellant] respectfully requests that this Court:

☐ Reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial

☐ Reverse the conviction and order entry of a judgment of acquittal

☐ Vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing

☐ [Other specific relief: ________________________________]

Respectfully submitted,

___________________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME], N.H. Bar No. [________]
[FIRM NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY], New Hampshire [ZIP]
Telephone: [________________]
Email: [________________]

Attorney for [APPELLANT / APPELLEE]

Date: [__/__/____]

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on [DATE], a copy of this Brief was served upon the following by [electronic filing / first-class mail / hand delivery]:

[OPPOSING COUNSEL NAME]
[OFFICE / FIRM]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY], New Hampshire [ZIP]

___________________________________________
[ATTORNEY NAME]

ADDENDUM

☐ Relevant statutory provisions

☐ Relevant constitutional provisions

☐ [Additional materials: ________________________________]

APPENDIX

☐ Judgment of conviction and sentence

☐ Relevant trial court orders

☐ Relevant transcript excerpts

☐ [Additional materials: ________________________________]

NEW HAMPSHIRE-SPECIFIC NOTES

• Appellate Court: New Hampshire has no intermediate appellate court. All criminal appeals go to the Supreme Court. N.H. Const. pt. 2, art. 73-a.
• Mandatory Appeals: Most criminal appeals are mandatory — automatically accepted for review by the Supreme Court. N.H. Sup. Ct. R. 7.
• Notice of Appeal: Must list all questions to be raised. Questions not listed cannot be briefed later without leave of court. N.H. Sup. Ct. R. 7(2), 16(3)(b).
• Time to Appeal: Notice of appeal within 30 days of the decision or sentence. N.H. Sup. Ct. R. 7.
• Brief Format: Size 13 font; 1.5 line spacing; left-aligned; sequentially numbered pages starting with cover page. N.H. Sup. Ct. R. 16(7).
• Preservation: Issues must be preserved by timely objection. New Hampshire does not routinely apply a plain error doctrine. State v. Etienne, 163 N.H. 57 (2011).
• 3-Year Rule: Under RSA 606:10, II, a notice of appeal must be filed within 3 years of sentencing if not filed timely, subject to certain exceptions.
• Appellate Defender Program: Indigent defendants may be represented by the Appellate Defender Program.