Latest posts
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Keith Livesay Attorney | How Appellate Counsel and Trial Teams Work Together Before Judgment
Appellate work is often associated with the period after a trial ends. Keith Livesay, Attorney explains that some of the most valuable appellate contributions happen earlier, while the trial is still underway. When appellate counsel and the trial team coordinate before judgment, the result is a stronger record and better protected legal issues. The reason…
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Keith Livesay Attorney | Interlocutory Appeals: Seeking Review Before Final Judgment
The general rule in appellate practice is that a party may appeal only after a final judgment. Keith Livesay, Attorney explains that there are limited exceptions, known as interlocutory appeals, which allow review of certain orders before a case has fully concluded. These appeals are narrow, but in the right situation they can be important.…
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Keith Livesay Attorney | Motion Practice in Appellate Courts: The Work Behind the Briefs
When people think about appeals, they usually picture briefs and perhaps oral argument. Keith Livesay, Attorney explains that a great deal of important work happens through motions filed during the appeal. This motion practice often determines the shape and pace of a case long before the court reaches the central legal questions. A motion is…
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Keith Livesay Attorney | Harmless Error vs Reversible Error: When a Mistake Changes the Outcome
Not every mistake in a trial leads to a reversal on appeal. Keith Livesay, Attorney explains that appellate courts draw a careful line between errors that affected the outcome and errors that did not. Understanding that distinction is central to evaluating whether an appeal has a realistic chance of success. When a trial court makes…
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Keith Livesay Attorney | Issue Selection on Appeal: Why Fewer Arguments Often Win
A common instinct after an unfavorable judgment is to challenge everything that went wrong at trial. Keith Livesay, Attorney explains that strong appellate advocacy usually moves in the opposite direction. Choosing a small number of well-supported issues tends to be more effective than raising every possible complaint. An appeal is not a chance to relitigate…
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Keith Livesay Attorney | The Notice of Appeal: Why Deadlines Are Jurisdictional and Unforgiving
Every appeal begins with a single document, and the timing of that document can decide whether an appeal happens at all. Keith Livesay, Attorney explains that the notice of appeal is the formal step that moves a case from the trial court toward appellate review, and that its deadline is among the strictest in litigation.…
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Keith Livesay Attorney | Oral Argument in Appeals: What It Accomplishes and When Courts Grant It
Many people imagine an appeal as a dramatic courtroom scene where lawyers argue passionately before a panel of judges. The reality is more measured. Keith Livesay, Attorney explains that oral argument, when it happens, is a focused and analytical exchange rather than a performance. Appellate courts decide many cases on the written briefs alone. Oral…