Baltimore Federal Criminal Appeals Attorney
Being convicted of federal charges can feel like the lowest point of your whole life. However, the fight does not have to end after a jury returns a guilty verdict. The federal judicial system is not perfect and accidents, mistakes, and errors have been known to happen. For this reason, people typically have rights to file an appeal of their convictions. Filing an appeal allows you to present your case to a federal appellate court for review. If the appellate court finds any serious errors, you could receive a new trial and a second chance.
Filing a petition to appeal after you have lost your first trial may seem daunting and hopeless. You might be more concerned with the possible prison sentence you must now serve. A qualified and experienced attorney can make a world of difference in your case. Our Baltimore federal criminal appeals attorneys can help you file your appeal and fight for your rights in appellate court. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 431-0911 to schedule a confidential, free legal consultation.
What is a Federal Criminal Appeal in Baltimore?
An appeal can be filed after you are found guilty and your trial is complete. An appeal is when you take your case to a higher court and ask them to review it for errors or mistakes. Keep in mind, filing an appeal is not like bail. You probably will not be allowed to await the results of your appeal from the comfort of your own home. Once you are found guilty, you will begin serving your prison sentence almost immediately. It is crucial that you have an experienced and competent lawyer on the outside who can advocate for your appeal. Our Baltimore federal criminal appeals lawyers can help you file your appeal.
An appeal is not a new trial. In fact, an appellate court will not hear any argument about the facts or evidence from your initial trial. Instead, the court will be reviewing your case for any legal errors that may have resulted in an unfair outcome. The kinds of errors the court looks for depends on the nature of your appeal. The court does not look for all possible errors. That would be too time-consuming for an extremely busy court. You must establish what mistakes you believe were made in your initial petition and the court will evaluate your case.
What Are the Steps Involved in a Federal Criminal Appeal in Baltimore?
To begin your appeals process, you will have to file a Notice of Appeal with the District Court in which your first trial was held. This Notice is important because it puts the court on notice that you intend to appeal its decision. Additionally, the court will prepare court transcripts and records to send to the appellate court for review. You will also file a legal memo with your notice explaining how you believe specific issues or errors came to be and the District Court will be able to respond to that memo with their own. Your appeal may be decided solely based on the documents delivered to the appellate court; however, you may also request oral arguments in court.
If you lose, you can actually appeal your appeal to an even higher court. The second appeal would go to the highest court in the entire country, the United States Supreme Court. Appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court is not guaranteed as that court is allowed to be more selective about the cases they hear. Unless your appeal is particularly compelling, it is unlikely to be chosen by the Court.
Where Do I Appeal My Federal Criminal Case in Baltimore?
You would appeal your federal criminal case to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Each state has several Federal District Courts where your initial trial may be heard. However, there are only thirteen Circuit Courts of Appeal in the United States, and each circuit covers a broad geographic area of the country. Baltimore and the rest of Maryland fall under the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal’s jurisdiction along with several other states.
The actual court for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals is located in Richmond, VA. However, the judges on the court sometimes travel throughout the region to hear cases.
What Happens if I Lose My Federal Criminal Appeal in Baltimore?
Losing your federal criminal appeal does not have to be the final straw. You can also appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, as mentioned above. Appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court is, in all honesty, a long shot. While it is not out of the realm of possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could hear your case, the odds are not in your favor. Our Baltimore federal criminal appeals attorneys can talk with you about your best options for appeals.
You may also file a petition for some form of federal post-conviction relief. There are several laws and statutes which grant relief to convicted, incarcerated federal defendants. For example, the discovery of new exculpatory evidence may allow a federal criminal defendant to file for post-conviction relief and get a new trial. Speak with our Baltimore federal criminal appeals lawyers to figure out what kind of post-conviction relief is best for you.
Call Our Baltimore Federal Criminal Appeals Attorney for a Confidential Legal Consultation
If you or a loved one has been found guilty of federal criminal charges, contact our Baltimore criminal federal appeals attorneys for help. We can assist you in filing your appeal with the right court and hopefully get you a new trial. Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 431-0911 to schedule a free and confidential legal consultation for your case.