Texas Criminal Appeals Lawyers

texas criminal appeals

Were you convicted of a crime in a state or federal court in Texas? You may be able to get relief by appealing your conviction or sentence. However, you could inadvertently waive your right to an appeal by missing a deadline, so you must contact a qualified criminal appeal attorney as soon as possible. At Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, we have extensive appellate experience in Texas state and federal courts. Call us today to discuss your case in a free consultation.

How Can a Texas Criminal Appeals Lawyer Help You?

A criminal appeal attorney is different from a trial lawyer. Rather than gathering and offering evidence in court, on appeal, we are reviewing what has already happened in court. We scrutinize all the evidence entered as exhibits at trial. We also read the transcripts from the trial and any hearings to find any errors that may provide a legal basis for reversing or modifying the decision.

At Broden & Mickelsen, LLP, our goal is to find any errors that may have affected the outcome of your case and determine whether we can seek relief on your behalf. We have the experience to find these errors and present compelling arguments to overturn your conviction or reduce your sentence on appeal.

Texas Criminal Appeals Process Overview

An appeal in a criminal case is initiated by filing a Notice of Appeal within 30 days of the date of sentencing. A panel of three judges is typically appointed to hear arguments about how something went wrong at the trial court level, necessitating a change to the trial court’s judgment. These arguments are presented in briefs submitted by your criminal appeal lawyers in Texas and by the state. Each judge on the panel will vote on these arguments after the defendant and state fully brief the appeal.

Court of Appeals

Arguments presented to the Court of Appeals when requesting your sentence be overturned or reduced will depend on the specific circumstances surrounding your case. Possible arguments might include:

  • A pre-trial motion was denied in error
  • The trial court failed to properly admit or suppress evidence during the trial
  • The judge gave the jury improper instructions
  • The judge made a mistake in sentencing that resulted in a longer sentence

Although these are some of the more common bases for errors that we might argue on your behalf, this is not an exhaustive list. We will vigorously examine your file for any arguments that provide a legal basis for appeal. If your criminal appeal is unsuccessful in the Court of Appeals, you can petition the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reconsider the decision of the Court of Appeals.