Being convicted and sentenced for a criminal offense in Connecticut is not necessarily the end of the road. If you believe that a serious procedural error or mistake has led to an unjust outcome from your trial, you have the right to file an appeal of the decision made by the jury and judge involved in your case. This could potentially result in the unfair verdict being thrown out.

That said, filing an appeal can be a difficult process requiring legal counsel from an attorney. Retaining a Hartford appeals lawyer at Ruane Attorneys could give you the best possible chances of presenting a compelling argument and securing a fairer verdict in your case.

When Can Someone Appeal a Criminal Case in Hartford?

Appealing a criminal verdict in Connecticut is not a way of asking for a second opinion on the underlying criminal charge or a second chance at building a stronger defense. The purpose of the appeals process is to allow defendants to request correction of a serious procedural or legal error that had a significant effect on their trial’s outcome.

Possible grounds for filing an appeal may include the following:

• Important evidence was improperly excluded from the trial, or unlawfully obtained evidence was wrongly admitted to trial
• The evidence presented at trial was not sufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
• The court gave the jury improper instructions
• The court violated the law or established procedural rules while conducting the trial
• One or more jurors engaged in inappropriate conduct during the trial, which affected the way they ruled on the case
• The defendant’s original legal counsel was ineffective to a degree beyond what anyone would consider reasonable standards for an attorney

An appeals attorney at our firm can discuss whether a particular scenario might justify this type of legal action during a private consultation.

Basic Elements of the Criminal Appeals Process

Defendants who wish to appeal a criminal conviction in Connecticut must first wait until the judge presiding over their case has passed down a sentence for that conviction. The defendant then has 20 days to formally file their appeal with the court, at which point any criminal sanctions imposed on that defendant will be “stayed” until the conclusion of their appeal.

Depending on the situation, an appeal may ask to overturn the original verdict, schedule an entirely new trial, have a higher court review the case, or contest specific terms of the sentence passed down by the court while accepting the court’s guilty verdict. As an appeals lawyer in Hartford could further explain, the appellate court can reverse the lower court’s decision, affirm it, or remand the case back to the lower court.

Seek Help from a Hartford Appeals Attorney

Filing an appeal against a criminal conviction can be a vital means of enforcing your Constitutional right to a fair trial. By correcting critical mistakes made during your previous trial, you can pursue a fair outcome, seek justice, and protect your future.

Help is available from a Hartford appeals lawyer at Ruane Attorneys. Let us work tirelessly to help you uphold your rights. Time is of the essence in these cases, so call today to schedule a consultation about your situation.