Being convicted of a crime at trial does not have to be the end of your case. You have the right to file an appeal and have your case heard by a higher court. That said, appeals are not a second chance at the outcome you want, but this process provides you with the opportunity to raise incorrect legal decisions or challenge mistakes made by the judge at trial.
If you intend to appeal your conviction, our team of dedicated defense attorneys is here to help. Each of our lawyers is a former prosecutor, uniquely and well-equipped to defend criminal cases. We look forward to putting that experience to good use for your case, so reach out to our Butler appeals lawyer to discuss your situation.
Defendants in this state have the right to appeal a conviction or sentence when legal errors may have affected the outcome of their case. Appeals are based on specific legal grounds, and our Butler attorneys could help you make the argument that your conviction is improper.
When a prosecutor engages in improper conduct, such as withholding evidence, it may deprive the defendant of a fair trial. This behavior can serve as valid grounds for an appeal.
Mistakes involving the admission or exclusion of evidence can unfairly influence a jury. Examples include allowing hearsay, admitting irrelevant or overly prejudicial material, or excluding evidence critical to the defense.
If a defense attorney fails to provide competent legal representation, the defendant’s Sixth Amendment rights may have been violated. This lack of adequate representation could justify an appeal.
Appeals may be filed when a judge issues a sentence that exceeds the statutory limits. These errors are fairly common and often result from the judge simply misreading the law.
Improper behavior by jurors, including exposure to outside information, can be grounds for an appeal if it undermines the fairness of the trial. It is not uncommon for the defense to learn about this type of misconduct only after the sentence has been imposed.
You may have a right to appeal your criminal conviction, but this right is not unlimited. There is a strict process that your appeals attorney in Butler must follow, and missing any deadlines could have catastrophic consequences for your chance at justice.
You must file something known as the Notice of Appeal with the superior court in order to formally start the appellate process. You have a 30-day window to file this notice, but the time period can begin to expire at any time. In general, the timer starts counting down on the day you get the judgment from the court. However, you could have more time if there are post-sentence motions filed with the court.
Because of the high stakes, it is important for you to rely on our attorneys during this process. Your lawyer could not only answer your questions about the deadline to file an appeal, but they could also ensure you meet all of the legal requirements to have your appeal heard. The right legal counsel could make a tremendous difference in the outcome of your case.
If you have been convicted of a crime, you should never assume you are completely out of options. Each year, defendants file an appeal after their conviction and ultimately have their convictions reversed.
Our Butler appeals lawyer could review your case file and help you understand if you have viable grounds to have your conviction overturned. Reach out today to get started.