Criminal Appeals

Arkansas and Federal 
Criminal Appeals

You’ve been convicted of a crime at trial. Regardless of whether you are guilty or not, you have a right to appeal your conviction(s) and/or sentence. An appeal is not a second chance to relitigate the facts of your case. Instead, the goal of a criminal appeal is usually a new trial altogether.

An appeal is, however, a second chance to achieve a favorable resolution for your case. Appellate courts review only the technical aspects of your case to determine whether the trial judge followed the law in making his or her rulings. For example, whether the trial judge was correct in admitting or excluding a particular piece of evidence or testimony. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling and arguing criminal appeals in Arkansas state courts, federal courts, and even the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

When You Can Appeal a Criminal Conviction

A person may look into criminal appeals after a conviction or sentence when there may have been a legal error during the case. This can involve issues with evidence, testimony, procedure, sentencing, or whether the court applied the law correctly. Appeals are technical, so the trial record matters. The court is usually reviewing what happened in the original case, not starting the case over from the beginning.

How a Criminal Appeals Attorney Reviews Your Case

A criminal appeals attorney looks closely at the trial record, court rulings, objections, evidence issues, and sentencing concerns. The goal is to identify legal issues that may have affected the result of the case.

Not every disagreement with the outcome becomes an appeal issue. The strongest arguments are usually based on specific legal errors that can be shown through the record.

Postconviction Appeals and Ineffective Assistance Claims

If your appeal was unsuccessful or if you pleaded guilty, you may also file a petition alleging some other type of legal error such as ineffective assistance on the part of your attorney. Typically this involves alleging specific things that the attorney did/did not do, how that was deficient, and how that error prejudiced the outcome of your case.

You do not have a right to an attorney for this type of appeal, and there are a series of complex procedural requirements that you must adhere to perfectly just to get your claims considered. Even then, the odds for this sort of postconviction petition are generally slim. Our attorneys have extensive experience at both the trial and appellate level in both Arkansas and federal courts with postconviction appeals.

Lassiter & Cassinelli also handles criminal appeals in federal court. Federal criminal appeals can involve strict rules, detailed records, and complex legal arguments. Whether the case is in Arkansas state court or federal court, appeals require careful review, strong legal writing, and an understanding of how appellate courts evaluate legal errors.

Talk to a Criminal Appeals Attorney

If you or someone you love needs help with a criminal appeal, postconviction appeal, or ineffective assistance claim, call Lassiter & Cassinelli today. Our attorneys can review your case, explain your options, and help you understand the next step.