I need some help on this. Consider the follow scenario: You are a criminal defense attorney, and your client has just been found guilty by the U.S. district court in Illinois. Respond in 200-300 words with these questions.

What are your options for appeal? Describe the appeals process all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. What is the likelihood that your case will end up there?
Who are the Supreme Court justices and chief justice who may or may not decide to hear your case?

After a defendant is found guilty in federal court, he may appeal the verdict, the sentence imposed by the court, or both. The first step is to file a Notice of Appeal.

The appeal will first be heard by a panel of three judges. The defendant submits a written brief explaining what mistakes were made by the trial court. The government then has the opportunity to submit a brief in reply, explaining that no mistakes were made or that, if they were, they were harmless error that did not affect the final verdict. The Court of Appeals will usually decide the case on the briefs. However, sometimes, the court will ask the parties to present oral arguments. In that case, each side has fifteen minutes to explain why he should win. The judges may interrupt to ask questions. Some time later, the Court will issue a decision. If the defendant disagrees with the Court's conclusion, he can seek rehearing before the full court. The full Court may decline to hear the case.

Finally, the defendant can file a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States. The Court declines the vast majority of these requests without opinion. A refusal to review the case is not adjudication on the merits. If the Court accepts the case, each party will submit a brief, and then appear before the court for oral arguments. Again, the court may interrupt to ask questions. Some time after the argument, the Court will issue a written decision. The defendant cannot appeal a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States.

As a criminal defense attorney, when your client has been found guilty by the U.S. district court in Illinois, you have several options for appeal.

The appeals process starts with filing a notice of appeal, which must be done within a specific timeframe, typically 10 to 30 days after the judgment. You need to carefully review the trial record to identify potential grounds for appeal, such as errors made by the trial judge or misconduct during the trial. These errors must have had a significant impact on the outcome of the case to be considered valid grounds for appeal.

Once the notice of appeal is filed, the case moves to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which has jurisdiction over Illinois. Here, a panel of judges will review the trial record, the parties' briefs, and may also hear oral arguments. The panel may affirm the district court's decision, reverse it, or remand the case back to the district court for further proceedings.

If you are unsatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeals, you can petition for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, it is essential to note that the Supreme Court has discretion in deciding which cases it reviews. They often prioritize cases that present important legal questions or conflicts of law. Given the limited capacity of the Supreme Court, the likelihood of your case being heard there is relatively low.

The Supreme Court consists of nine justices, one of whom serves as the Chief Justice. The current justices are Chief Justice John Roberts, and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. All nine justices are responsible for deciding which cases to hear. The decision to grant certiorari requires the votes of at least four justices.

In conclusion, as a criminal defense attorney, your options for appeal after a guilty verdict in the U.S. district court in Illinois are to file an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and, if necessary, petition for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the likelihood of your case being heard by the Supreme Court is relatively low, and the decision to hear your case rests with the nine justices of the Court.