If you are found guilty of committing a criminal offence at trial, you can appeal either the conviction or the sentence or both to a higher court. The Crown Attorney can also appeal a decision if you are acquitted or if the Crown disagrees with the sentence you received. For offences under the Criminal Code, the Court that will hear your potential appeal will depend on the type of criminal proceeding. Summary conviction offences are appealed to the Superior Court of Justice, and indictable offences are appealed to the Ontario Court of Appeal. Summary Convictions that have already been appealed to the Superior Court of Justice can be appealed further to the Court of Appeal. Decisions rendered by the Court of Appeal can in turn be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, the country’s top Court, but only in exceptional circumstances. The rules surrounding the legally valid reasons for an appeal are complex. It is therefore essential that you consult with a Toronto criminal defence lawyer prior to filling your appeal. To be successful on appeal, it is not sufficient to simply express disagreement with the initial decision and hope that the higher court agrees with you.