DNA evidence changed how criminal prosecution works. However, it is not infallible and might lead to false convictions. According to the Innocence Project, both the District of Columbia and Maryland allow for post-conviction DNA testing for crimes of violence. Even if...
“The Defense Never Rests.”
Appeals
What are some outcomes to appealing a conviction?
Everyone should have effective counsel when going up against criminal charges in court. Unfortunately, some people end up with a conviction because a defense attorney committed mistakes that contributed to the outcome. Additionally, sometimes a trial judge misapplies...
What may help me when I file an appeal?
If you found a harmful legal error that led to your conviction, you may file an appeal and request that a judge review your case. Showing that a mistake in the court’s actions or processing occurred may compel a judge to overturn a conviction. According to the...
What to know in regard to appealing a conviction
If you are facing a criminal conviction, and you think that there was an error during your original trial, you have a right to appeal the decision. Because a conviction results in a major change of life circumstances, it may be worth examining the options for appeal....
The importance of issue preservation for an appeal
Getting a guilty verdict in a criminal trial is a grim moment for a defendant. Nonetheless, the verdict does not necessarily doom a defendant to serving a sentence. To ensure justice, convicted defendants in Maryland and the District of Columbia have the right to...
Appeals due to ineffective assistance of counsel
If you lost a trial and feel that your attorney did not do an appropriate job of defending you, you may be able to file an appeal due to ineffective assistance of counsel. As part of your right to have a fair trial, the actions of your lawyer play a role, whether the...
Preparing to appeal your conviction
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...
Can I appeal my case in DC?
Appealing a criminal conviction is not an automatic right. Many people do not understand how appeals work and that your case must qualify. According to the District of Columbia Courts, you do have the right to request an appeal in any situation. However, the court...
Answers to common appeal questions
Once an individual receives a sentence for a criminal conviction, he or she may qualify for an appeal. An appeal means that he or she asks a higher court to look for legal errors in the lower court's conviction. If the higher court finds errors that would have...
How can I prove ineffective assistance of counsel?
One of the approaches you can take with your criminal appeal is to claim your attorney did not do a good job. However, making this claim is not as simple as showing you do no feel your attorney did everything he or she could to prove your innocence. Cornell Law School...