About Me​

When a trial ends in a guilty verdict, it feels like the system has completely slammed the door. But in the American legal system, a verdict is not the final word. It is simply the end of the first act.

I'm Nina McDonnell, and I founded McDonnell Appeals to do one thing exceptionally well: fight for individuals in state and federal criminal direct appeals. 

​

I do not handle trials or pleas, and I no longer practice in civil appellate or post-conviction litigation. By intentionally narrowing my focus, I ensure that every ounce of my firm's intellectual energy is dedicated to the distinct, highly complex rules of appellate courts. I am a scholarly practitioner operating in a niche that requires rigorous academic analysis, deep constitutional knowledge, and meticulous brief writing. When your freedom is on the line, you don't need a general practice attorney; you need an advocate who lives and breathes the appellate process.

​

Experience Grounded in the Appellate Courts

My career has been defined by the quiet, intensive research and writing that happens behind the scenes--and the high-stakes arguments that happen in front of the high courts. Before launching this practice, I served as an assistant public defender in the appellate unit of the Missouri State Public Defender, a role that fostered my deep commitment to challenging judicial errors. 

​

Over the course of my career, I have:

​

• Argued before the Supreme Court of Missouri three times, resulting in landmark decisions regarding fundamental constitutional rights, including the Confrontation and Double Jeopardy Clauses.

• Authored numerous briefs and petitions for certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), refusing to back down when a case needs to be pushed to the highest level.

• Shaped the next generation of legal minds as an adjunct assistant professor at Saint Louis University School of Law, teaching Legal Analysis, Research, and Communications, as well as an advanced criminal justice seminar.

A Different Kind of Appellate Advocacy

Appellate litigation is fundamentally different from trial work. It is not about courtroom theatrics or dramatic cross-examinations; it is a battle fought on the pages of legal briefs and through precise legal interpretation. And while many view oral argument as an after-though, I treat it as a requirement. These hearings are highly controlled environments that demand surgical precision. In front of an appellate panel, there is no room for error. Every question from the bench is an opportunity to dismantle the state's case or solidify our own.

​

I understand the devastation and fear that follows a conviction. But I also know trial courts make mistakes. If procedural errors were made, if constitutional boundaries were crossed, or if the law was applied incorrectly, I will find it. 

​

A guilty verdict is only as good as its appeal. Let's begin the next phase of the fight. 

​​I understand the devastation and fear that follows a conviction. But I also know trial courts make mistakes. If procedural errors were made, if constitutional boundaries were crossed, or if the law was applied incorrectly, I will find it. 

​

A guilty verdict is only as good as its appeal. Let's begin the next phase of the fight.