One of the most common questions we hear from our clients is "How can I get my conviction overturned?" It is important to understand that if you entered into a plea bargain, then you have pleaded guilty and are subject to criminal penalties. You cannot appeal a conviction just because you do not like the result. However, this does not mean that you cannot get significant relief from a criminal conviction.

There are a variety of tools that can be used to provide some form of relief to people who have already been convicted of a crime. The most well known tool is the appeal.

In order for an appeal to be made, the defense counsel must meet specific requirements in order to permit the case to move into the appellate court system. These requirements usually involve identifying some type of problem in the original trial and citing supporting legal precedents for reversing a prior conviction or getting a new trial.

There are a variety of strategies that can be used to obtain an appeal, including the discovery of new evidence, failure to follow correct procedures (mistrials), the use of evidence that should have been suppressed, etc. Since there are strict time limits (statutes of limitation) during which appeals can be made, it is important to start this process as early as possible.

• Collateral Attacks on Sentencing
• Use of DNA Evidence
• Writs of Habeas Corpus