A criminal appeal is a formal request to rehear a case that has already been decided -- a request that a new court reconsider the decision of the first court. When one or both sides of a case that has already been decided think there was a mistake made at trial, they can file an appeal. An appeal is entirely different than a jury trial. There is no testimony taken. The court of appeals decides the case entirely upon the written briefs filed by your attorney and the offie of the Attorney General who represents the prosecution and asks that the conviction be upheld.
Van Meter is a city in Dallas County, Iowa, along the Raccoon River. The population was 866 at the 2000 census. Major league baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller is a native of Van Meter and has a museum honoring him in the town. On November 11, 2006, Veterans Day, ground was broken for an Iowa Veterans Cemetery at a site located near Van Meter. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was among those who helped dedicate the cemetery. Van Meter is situated west of Des Moines, just south of Interstate 80. and is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.