Sitting behind bars after a wrongful conviction can feel disheartening and hopeless. Despite your claims of innocence and the evidence presented at trial, a jury still found enough reason to convict you for the crime in question.
Fortunately, you have the legal right to file an appeal to request that court officials revisit your case and reconsider your conviction. Preparing for this opportunity requires careful planning. Your knowledge of how to prepare can boost your confidence and your resolve to get justice.
Be proactive
One of the biggest missteps you can take is to wait too long to file an appeal. By law, you do only have so much time to petition the court for an appeal before the statute of limitations prevents you from doing so. As soon as you receive a response informing you of the court’s approval you will want to begin organizing your case right away.
Often, legal professionals will seek new evidence that supports your situation as part of their preparation for going back to court. Be forthright in providing the information you know or supplying your legal team with potential information sources.
Be strategic
Strategy plays a large role in whether or not your appeal will catch the attention of jurors. Your legal team may consider reorganizing your case and removing or adding context to improve its persuasiveness. While you await your court date, you can benefit from acting responsibly, civilly and patiently. Your decision to have integrity can help you maintain a positive reputation with the courts.
Most appeals are a final decision. However, according to the United States Courts, the outcome of your appeal could look different depending on the severity of the crime and other factors of your case. For example, your appeal could result in exoneration or amendments to your original charges. In some cases, your appeal may not change your fate at all. Even though you do not know what the outcome will be, your preparation can give you a winning shot at a positive outcome.