The Appeals Division of the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office advocates for the interests of the community and the State of Louisiana in appellate cases before the Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the Appellate Division of the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.

Assistant District Attorneys in this division handle a range of post-conviction proceedings, including responding to and litigating applications in state court. They also manage federal habeas corpus applications filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and represent these cases on appeal before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

In addition, the Appeals Division supports the Trials Division by conducting legal research on complex issues, and when necessary, it seeks emergency reviews of unfavorable trial court decisions in both the state appellate and Supreme Courts.