Federal Appellate Lawyer
Federal Appellate Attorney
Direct appeals are an important way of challenging wrongful convictions or unfair sentences in federal court. A direct appeal is the standard process of appealing a conviction or a sentence for a crime, and is usually available to all defendants. Even if you’ve previously agreed not to appeal in a plea deal, there might still be options available to you.
The best way to appeal your verdict or sentence is to hire an experienced appellate lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us today to discuss how we can help your case.
The Process
If you do not agree with the decision of the court or jury trying your case, you have the legal right to appeal your case to a higher court for review. For cases tried in federal court, this will be the Circuit Court of Appeals for your region. Timing is crucial – your attorney must file a notice of appeal within 10 days of the judgment or order being appealed, and the written brief must be submitted soon after. At Johnson/Citronberg, we excel at quickly crafting compelling written briefs.
It is essential to hire an attorney to submit a compelling written brief to the appeals court detailing the reasons for your appeal, as in many cases, the appeals court will render their decision on the briefs alone. Your attorney will file a brief including a statement of facts and their legal argument supported by case law, statutes, and other legal authorities, as well as respond to the government’s response.
Your attorney might also be summoned to appear for oral arguments. At Johnson/Citronberg, we are prepared to represent you not only in written briefs but also in oral arguments, ensuring your case receives the attention it deserves.
In the case that the appeals court judges agree that there were significant issues in your case, they may refer it back to the trial court, adjust your sentence, or overturn the conviction completely. Most appeals are final, unless the court sends the case back to the trial court or the parties seek review in the U.S. Supreme Court. However, even if an appeal is denied, it might nonetheless be possible to file a § 2255 motion.
Issues Raised On Appeal
Direct appeals require demonstrating errors or negligence that affected the fairness of your trial. A direct appeal may raise issues of whether evidence was properly admitted or excluded, whether the jury was properly instructed, whether the sentence was properly calculated, or prosecutor misconduct. We will explore all of these possibilities in order to help you fight for a fair and just outcome. Because the time frame for filing the appeal after your initial verdict is short, it is important to have an attorney with the skills and experience necessary to act quickly and advocate for you.
Contact Johnson/Citronberg today to have an experienced federal defense attorney review your case, identify all possible issues to raise on direct appeal, answer questions, and represent you throughout the process.
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If you or someone you know is facing a child pornography charge in Virginia, contact us now for immediate help.
