After a case in criminal court, many assume that they must accept the judge’s sentence. However, this may not necessarily be true. State law says that all criminal defendants who receive a conviction have the right to pursue an appeal of that conviction.

Even so, an appeal must be able to point to specific legal mistakes during the case. If you believe that an error during your trial or plea deal resulted in an unfair result, a Shelton appeals lawyer may be able to help. A successful appeal could see a court ordering a new trial, reducing a sentence, or even issuing an outright acquittal. Reach out to the legal team at Ruane Attorneys today to discuss your situation.

How Do Criminal Appeals Work?

A core concept under the state’s criminal law says that all convicted individuals have the right to appeal their convictions. However, the burden is on these parties to understand the rules for appeals and act within the applicable time limits.

Connecticut General Statute § 54-95 outlines the time frame and filing procedures for requesting a formal appeal after a criminal conviction. Once a judge issues a sentence following a finding of guilt, defendants have up to 20 days to file an appeal. Filing this appeal will automatically postpone any sentence the court imposes, which often means a continuation of bail terms. Obtaining legal assistance as soon as possible after a negative case result is essential. A Shelton appeals attorney could get to work immediately in obtaining the information needed to meet the strict deadline.

Situations that May Warrant an Appeal

Anyone pursuing an appeal with the Connecticut Appellate Court must have a legally valid basis for doing so. A defendant must be able to point to a specific error of law that occurred during their trial or plea deal that violated their rights. In most situations, these are errors by judges that resulted in an unfair trial.

Common examples of errors that may lead to a successful appeal include:

• The admission of illegal evidence
• An improper empanelment of jurors
• Not properly evaluating the defendant’s actions during the acceptance of a plea deal
• Ineffective assistance of counsel during a trial or plea deal

It is important to note that a defendant cannot appeal a jury’s decision to issue a conviction.

The appellate judge hearing the case will evaluate the facts of the primary case only to the extent that it is necessary to understand the judge’s decisions. Defendants and the State’s attorneys cannot present new evidence during an appeal. Instead, an appeals lawyer evaluates prior case law and the state’s rules of criminal procedure to point to errors that led to an unfair outcome for a defendant.

Reach Out to a Shelton Appeals Attorney Immediately

Unfortunate outcomes occur daily in Shelton’s criminal courts. However, not every conviction can allow a defendant to pursue an appeal. For these cases to be successful, you must be able to point to an error of law that resulted in an unfair trial.

A Shelton appeals lawyer at Ruane Attorneys is ready to advocate for you. Our legal team could evaluate the actions of judges during your principal trial, determine if any errors of law occurred, and file formal requests for appeals within the 20-day time limit. Contact our firm now, as the time to pursue your appeal may be running out.