Criminal Appeals Lawyer in California
Righting the System’s Wrongs
- Experience on Both Sides of the Courtroom
- Strict Deadline Management From Day One
- 24/7 Attorney Access
Law House
Is the Right Choice
Evidence-Driven Strategies
Our attorneys go through every transcript, filing, ruling, and piece of evidence from your original trial to find the specific errors that give your case the strongest possible foundation. Nothing is assumed, and nothing is overlooked.
Experience on Both Sides
Understanding how the other side thinks is one of the most valuable advantages an appeals attorney can have. Because our full-service international law firm has represented both defendants and the opposing party in criminal and domestic matters, our attorneys know how cases are built, where they tend to fall apart, and which arguments are most likely to hold up on appeal.
Always Within Reach
Criminal appeals have strict deadlines, and missing one can end your case before it begins. Our attorneys are available 24/7 by phone or in person. When something time-sensitive comes up, you're never left waiting. No matter where you are, help is always within reach.
Forming the Basis of Your Appeal
If an error affected the outcome of your case at trial, we’ll find it. Common errors we find that can help us challenge your conviction or sentence and form the basis of your appeal include:
- Improper admission of evidence occurs when the trial court allows evidence to be presented to the jury that should have been excluded under the rules of evidence, potentially influencing the verdict unfairly.
- An illegal search and seizure occurs when law enforcement obtains evidence by violating a person's Fourth Amendment rights, and that evidence is used against them at trial despite the fact that it should have been excluded.
- Insufficient evidence to support the verdict occurs when the evidence presented at trial was simply not strong enough to justify a guilty verdict beyond a reasonable doubt, regardless of how the trial was conducted.
- Procedural mistakes occur when the court or one of the parties fails to follow the established legal rules that govern how a case must be conducted, which can compromise the fairness of the proceedings.
- Misapplication of the law occurs when the trial court incorrectly interprets or applies the law to the facts of the case, leading to a ruling or outcome that wouldn't have happened under a correct reading.
- Prosecutorial misconduct occurs when a prosecutor acts outside the boundaries of their legal and ethical obligations, such as withholding evidence favorable to the defense or making improper statements to the jury.
- Incorrect jury instructions occur when the judge provides the jury with a flawed or misleading explanation of the law they are required to apply, which can lead jurors to reach a verdict based on the wrong legal standard.
- Ineffective assistance of counsel occurs when a defendant's trial attorney performs so poorly, and that performance so clearly affects the outcome, that the defendant is considered to have been denied their constitutional right to a fair trial.
- A sentence that doesn't fit the law occurs when the punishment handed down by the court falls outside the legally permissible range for the offense, whether because of a miscalculation, an overlooked statute, or an error in how sentencing guidelines were applied.
The Criminal Appeals Process in California
In California, the appeals process is complex and deadline-driven, making experienced legal representation essential. Our firm helps clients navigate every stage of the appellate process with strategic, detail-focused advocacy.
FAQ for Our Criminal Appeals Lawyer in California
Can I appeal my conviction if I already pleaded guilty?
In most cases, pleading guilty limits your ability to appeal, but it doesn't eliminate it. There are situations where an appeal may still be possible. For example, if your guilty plea was not entered voluntarily, if you were not properly informed of the consequences, or if your attorney failed to provide adequate counsel during the plea process. If you pleaded guilty and believe something went wrong, it's worth speaking with our California appeals attorney to understand your options.
How is an appeal different from a new trial?
An appeal is not a do-over. You cannot present new witnesses, introduce new evidence, or re-argue the facts of your case before an appellate court. Instead, the court reviews the record from your original trial and determines whether legal errors were made that affected the outcome. A new trial may be granted as a result of a successful appeal, but the appeal itself is a legal argument, not a second trial.
What are the chances my appeal will be successful?
Appeals are difficult to win, and most convictions are upheld. That said, the strength of an appeal depends on what happened at trial: the quality of the legal arguments, the significance of the errors identified, and how well the briefs are prepared. Our criminal appeals lawyer in California can provide an honest assessment of where your case stands and whether there are viable grounds worth pursuing.
