A criminal conviction might feel final, but the reality is that you still have the opportunity to file an appeal. If you can show that you were wrongfully convicted or that an error was made during your trial, you may be able to have that conviction overturned.
That said, the appellate system is difficult to navigate on your own. Our firm is made up of former prosecutors who understand what it takes to fight your case at a higher level, and our dedicated defense attorneys will work nonstop to get the best outcome possible. Let our Cranberry Township appeals lawyer at Benjamin Levine Law help.
In Pennsylvania, defendants have the right to appeal their conviction or sentence on a variety of grounds. This process isn’t a “do-over” or a second bite at the apple. Instead, it is an opportunity to right a wrong that may have led to a faulty conviction. In order for your appeal to succeed, you will need to have viable grounds. Our Cranberry Township appeals attorney could rely on the following:
If the prosecutor engaged in unethical behavior, this could be grounds for appeal. Conduct like hiding evidence favorable to the defense or making inflammatory statements to the jury could violate your right to a fair trial.
An appeal may be warranted if the trial court allowed inadmissible evidence to be heard by a jury. You also have the right to appeal a judge’s failure to allow valid evidence in.
Errors in how the court applied sentencing guidelines may result in an appeal. There are times when a judge might mistakenly hand down a sentence that goes beyond what is allowed by law.
A conviction may be overturned if jurors engaged in improper conduct, such as discussing the case before deliberations or showing bias. Jurors must follow strict procedures to ensure impartiality, and the failure to do so could be grounds to overturn a conviction.
If a defense attorney fails to provide competent counsel, you can argue that your Sixth Amendment rights were violated. This is one of the most common grounds for appeal, but it is important to remember that a bad outcome will not always rise to the grounds of ineffective assistance.
Your opportunity to file an appeal in your criminal case will not last forever. Under the law, the appellate courts will not consider your case if you wait too long to file.
This process starts with something called the Notice of Appeal. You have to file this pleading with the superior court where your case was heard within 30 days of your conviction being finalized. If your attorney files any motions following your trial, that 30-day window will not start until those issues are resolved.
Complying with these deadlines is your best chance for relief, which means it is critical that you get it right. A Cranberry Township lawyer from our firm can handle every aspect of your appeal, from filing the notice to arguing before the appellate court on your behalf.
Being convicted of a crime can feel hopeless, but you are not out of options. Our attorneys understand the appellate system, and we will aggressively pursue your case in the higher courts to have your conviction overturned.
There is no guarantee that this process will be successful, but our goal is to make the strongest possible argument that you were wrongfully convicted. To learn more about how we can help, reach out to our Cranberry Township appeals lawyer at Benjamin Levine Law right away.