Criminal Appeals

If you feel you have been unjustly convicted of a crime, you may be eligible for an appeal.  An appeal is the request for a higher court to review a decision made in a lower court. A criminal appeal challenges the defendant’s criminal conviction in local or state court.  When appeals are successful, it can result in a reversal of the conviction, suppression of evidence, reduction in the sentencing, or the granting of a new trial. Furthermore, if the defendant faces imprisonment after the original trial, he/she can post bail pending the appeal.
An appeal is NOT a retrial. The appellate judge does not rehear testimony and no new evidence is permitted. The appeal is based on the written record of what happened at the original trial or proceeding.

There are many reasons to request an appeal. Generally, grounds for criminal appeals are based on errors the trial judge made in permitting the jury to hear suppressed evidence, or by not allowing importance evidence to be heard.  If the jury was given wrong information by the judge, or the defendant suffered ineffective counsel, he/she may also have grounds for an appeal.

After a conviction in local court, the defendant can appeal at the California Court of Appeals. The appeal must be filed within 60 days after the original conviction. After a written notice of appeal has been filed, the appeal date generally occurs within year to eighteen months. If you lose your appeal at the California Court of Appeals, the case can then go on to be heard at the federal court level.  However, an appeal can only be heard in Federal Court if the conviction that is being challenged violates the U.S. Constitution.

Appellate law is a very difficult and frustrating system to work through and understand if you do not have the assistance of an attorney experienced in criminal appeals. By hiring a criminal defense attorney with a thorough knowledge of appellate law, you greatly increase your chance of getting your conviction reversed. If you are in need of an attorney for a criminal appeal in Los Angeles, a knowledgeable attorney like Richard Sudar can protect your rights and present you with legal options and extensive resources.

The Law Offices of Richard Sudar have successfully represented numerous clients seeking criminal appeals in the Los Angeles area. The Law Offices of Richard Sudar are committed to fighting on behalf of your best interest and legal rights.  If you are in need of an experienced appellate law attorney in Los Angeles, call the Law Offices of Richard Sudar today!


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