Procedural grounds

[shahar]

Jurisdiction

Other

What is the meaning of the expression procedural grounds in the text:
Butler attended Boise State University for a year. In 1991, Butler was convicted of assault during his freshman year of college. His appeal was unsuccessful on procedural grounds, as a judge ruled that Butler's defense attorney did not raise the issue in an earlier appeal. The Idaho State Penitentiary paroled Butler on 26 April 1995.
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From: Max Butler - Wikipedia
I an not native English so I need explanation please.

 

[Zigner]

In general, it means that there is a certain procedure involved in appeals and that procedure was not followed. In this specific instance, it means that the attorney did not follow the steps required to appeal (the issue wasn't mentioned previously.)

 

[Tax Counsel]

What is the meaning of the expression procedural grounds in the text:
Butler attended Boise State University for a year. In 1991, Butler was convicted of assault during his freshman year of college. His appeal was unsuccessful on procedural grounds, as a judge ruled that Butler's defense attorney did not raise the issue in an earlier appeal.

It means that the appeal was denied because the appeal filed by the defendant failed to meet the rules of procedure for an appeal. In the U.S. generally the grounds for the appeal must first be raised with the lower court before the appellate court may consider it. The attorney for the defendant failed to do that, and thus the appeal was denied. It had nothing to do with the merits of the appeal the defendant was attempting to pursue. It's simply a failure of the defendant to follow the rules for appeal.