Appellate Unit
The Criminal Division’s Appellate Unit handles appeals in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Boston, Massachusetts. All criminal appeals, whether by a defendant or by the government, are handled by the Appellate Unit. In addition, all post-conviction “collateral attacks” on criminal convictions, such as motions for writs of habeas corpus or writs of error coram nobis, are assigned to Appellate AUSAs, who litigate the cases in both District Court and the Court of Appeals. Appellate lawyers provide research and writing assistance to other Assistant U.S. Attorneys when necessary.