After receiving a criminal conviction in Maryland, you may have the option to pursue an appeal.
An appeal provides an opportunity to challenge the outcome of your case based on legal grounds. This article examines various reasons why individuals may choose to seek an appeal in their Maryland criminal convictions, allowing them to potentially secure a more favorable outcome.
Errors in legal procedure
One significant reason to pursue an appeal is if errors in legal procedure occurred during your trial. This can include mistakes made by the court, improper admission of evidence, jury misconduct or errors in jury instructions. Challenging these procedural errors can be grounds for seeking a reversal of your conviction.
Insufficient evidence
If you believe that the evidence presented during your trial was insufficient to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, pursuing an appeal can be a valid course of action. The appellate court reviews the evidence to determine if there was a lack of substantial evidence supporting the conviction, which could potentially result in a change in your conviction.
Misconduct or bias
If you have evidence of prosecutorial misconduct or judicial bias that affected the fairness of your trial, pursuing an appeal can help rectify the situation. Examples of misconduct or bias may include suppression of exculpatory evidence and improper statements made by the prosecutor or the judge demonstrating bias during the proceedings.
Newly discovered evidence
The discovery of new evidence that was not available during your trial can be a compelling reason to seek an appeal. To present newly discovered evidence successfully, it must be material to your case, likely to change the outcome of the trial, and could not have been reasonably discovered earlier.
Sentencing discrepancies
Appeals can also be sought if you believe there were errors or discrepancies in your sentencing. This can include improper application of sentencing guidelines, incorrect calculation of penalties or violations of your constitutional rights during the sentencing phase.
It is important to understand Maryland law to better know how to navigate through the appeals process. Knowing what circumstances will allow you to file an appeal can help provide a better outcome for your criminal conviction.