Criminal appeals: istinaf and temyiz

Regional appellate review

İstinaf concerns review by a regional appellate court. The available scope and admissibility must be assessed against the judgment and procedural rules. The defence should identify errors in findings, evidence assessment or application of law with specific references to the record. A disagreement with the result alone is not a complete appeal analysis.

Review by Yargıtay

Temyiz involves review by the Court of Cassation where the law permits it. Not every regional appellate decision can be taken to Yargıtay. The type of judgment, statutory conditions and procedural history matter. Supply the earlier judgment and appellate decision together so the permitted remedy can be checked.

Determine the deadline

Preserve the reasoned decision and every record showing how and when it was notified. The date of the hearing, the date on the document and service may have different procedural significance. Historical and transitional rules may also matter. Request a deadline assessment immediately after receiving a decision rather than relying on an online general estimate.

Appeal and enforcement

Finality and enforceability require a separate review of the record. A constitutional application has its own admissibility conditions and does not automatically replace ordinary remedies. The lawyer should clarify which remedy is available, the issues it can address and the documents needed. No appeal outcome can be guaranteed in advance.

What to have ready

Full case number and the authority handling the matter
Your procedural role and current country of residence
Original decisions and notification or service records
A dated timeline and the evidence already available
Known hearing dates, travel plans and your questions

Common questions

Can every conviction be reviewed by Yargıtay?

No. Admissibility depends on the relevant statutory rules and decision.

Is the judgment date enough to calculate a deadline?

Not necessarily. Notification and the applicable procedural rules must also be checked.

Legal sources and further reading

Further information in Turkish →

These guides address Turkish law. The relevant law, procedural deadlines and possible remedies must be assessed against the individual documents. A website description cannot establish the outcome of a case.