criminal appeals

At a trial, your attorney will argue to a jury or judge that the government or state has failed to prove the prosecution’s case beyond a reasonable doubt.  In the event that you are convicted of an offense, you have the right to appeal your convictions to an appellate court.  Appeals are a unique animal in the law.  Your appellate attorney will argue to a higher appellate court that the trial court made one or more legal errors that unfairly prejudiced you.  There are several different appellate issues your attorney can explore on appeal, however, there are unforgiveable deadlines that require you to file certain paperwork in order to appeal your trial or sentence.  Typically, you must file a notice of appeal within 14 days from a judgment in a federal case and within 30 days following the issuance of a written order imposing a sentence in a state case.  Therefore, you must act fast if you want to appeal a criminal action.  It is also important to hire an attorney with excellent legal research and writing skills, as appellate courts have extremely high standards for all briefs and filings that they review.  

In addition to appeals, you may also be entitled to file a post-conviction motion seeking a new trial, a re-sentencing, or the correction of your original sentence.  Grounds for these post-conviction motions typically involve allegations that you received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial or that newly discovered evidence has come to light that should be heard by a court in the interests of justice.  Like appeals, it is essential to have an experienced federal lawyer prepare post-conviction motions to maximize your chances of obtaining favorable relief from an appeals court.   

As a former federal prosecutor, Andrew Searle understands the intricacies and complexities of pursuing an appeal or a post-conviction motion.   Andrew has also handled appellate cases before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which is the federal appeals court that has jurisdiction over all federal cases that originate in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.  Andrew will work diligently to pursue an appeal or post-conviction motion on your behalf that is thoroughly researched and well argued.  If your appeal or motion requires an oral argument, Andrew will rely on his many years of courtroom experience to forcefully and persuasively argue your case before the appellate court.