If you have been convicted of securities fraud, you may feel a sense of dread and uncertainty about your future. You may wonder what this conviction means for your job, finances, and reputation. You aren't alone. Many people find themselves in this situation after...
Federal Appeals
Can you appeal a conviction if your attorney failed you?
While your attorney will do their best to fight the charges you face, there is no guarantee they will succeed. You might be angry at them if you did not win, but that alone is not sufficient grounds to appeal. You may, however, be able to appeal your case if you can...
Dissecting the criminal appeals process
Going to court is often a scary and overwhelming process. While you hope for the best, this may not be the outcome achieved. While an unfavorable verdict may be disappointing, it doesn’t mean you don’t have options. At this point, you can appeal the decision....
Points to know before appealing a federal felony conviction
After a felony conviction on charges involving racketeering or drug trafficking, most defendants begin planning to appeal immediately. You have the right to appeal a court decision if your trial involved legal errors, jury misconduct or ineffective defense...
Did a conflict of interest involving the judge affect your trial?
Judges are supposed to be impartial scholars of the law who interpret existing statutes and prior court precedent to decide what is fair and reasonable. Federal judges have the authority to send someone to federal prison or exonerate them based on their interpretation...
What qualities should your federal appeals attorney possess?
When appealing a conviction on fraud charges (or narcotics and RICO convictions, etc.), you need an advocate willing to fight for you. However, many lawyers are prepared to fight on behalf of their clientele. How do you know which law professional you need? First,...
Voir dire and the Scott Peterson trial: What’s going on?
Back in 2005, Scott Peterson was convicted of the Christmas Eve murder of his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son. Initially sentenced to death, an appellate court reduced the sentence to life in prison. Now, a very public exploration of the voir dire process...
Potential reasons to appeal a drug conviction
You're arrested on drug charges, and you do plead not guilty. However, you are convicted in court. You don't believe that the conviction is valid, of course, so you want to appeal. One part of the appeals process is that you have to have a valid reason to do so. You...
Does everyone just appeal every ruling?
There are those who believe that every single person who is convicted in court will then turn around and appeal that decision. They think of it as just part of the process, as if cases are always appealed, regardless of all other facts. If the person doesn't win and...
Criminal appeals must have a basis
The criminal justice system says that people can only be convicted of a crime if the evidence shows they did it “beyond a reasonable doubt.” While this might seem like it’s fairly foolproof, this isn’t necessarily the case. A person who’s convicted of a crime might...