Alabama Federal Criminal Appeals Attorneys
We Are Federal Criminal Appeals
Sometimes, federal criminal convictions are the result of a denial of due process of law and in violation of constitutional safeguards. Other times, federal criminal sentences are handed-down in violation of the mandatory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Sadly, it also happens that convictions and sentences are sometimes the result of ineffective assistance of trial counsel resulting in an unfair trial. Regardless of the circumstances, if you believe that your conviction, sentence or both are the result of legal errors, then you might have the right to file a direct appeal. If successful, a direct appeal can result in a new trial, a different sentence or sometimes even the eventual dismissal of your case. We can help.
Contact our Alabama federal appeals lawyers at 1-800-APPEALS for a free consultation.
We are a boutique federal criminal appeals law firm admitted to practice in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. Our federal criminal appeals attorneys can help you file a direct appeal or to seek other post-conviction relief such as a Writ of Habeas Corpus and a Writ of Errors Coram Nobis.
Whether your federal criminal conviction originated in Birmingham, Huntsville, or Mobile or anywhere else in Alabama, we will work hard to protect and defend your rights on appeal - all the way to the top, if necessary. Our experienced federal criminal appeals attorneys help both individuals and businesses in a wide-range of post-conviction appeals including the following:
- Violent crimes including bank robbery, car jacking, kidnapping, civil rights violations and hate crimes, felony possession of firearms, immigration offenses, illegal aliens in possession of firearms, arson, illegal trafficking in firearms and offenses involving possessing other illegal weapons and explosives;
- White Collar crimes such as public corruption, government fraud, health care fraud, bankruptcy fraud, mail & wire fraud, complex computer crimes, child exploitation and pornography, threats against electrical power systems, emergency services, telecommunications, gas & oil storage and transportation, the continuity of government services and the water supply, passport fraud, crimes involving the post office, social security fraud, telemarketing fraud, check fraud, commercial loan fraud, counterfeit negotiable instruments, mortgage fraud and check kiting; and
- Narcotics and Organized Crimes including weapons charges, drug-trafficking, importing illegal drugs, narcotics and controlled substances and money laundering.
Alabama Federal Criminal Appeals Lawyers Understand the Process of Pursuing Appeals
Seeking post-conviction relief is complex and full of traps for the unwary. One example of procedural requirements involves the time limits to preserve and file a direct appeal such as the following:
- You must file a Notice of Appeal within 14-days of the entry of the judgment or order that you are appealing to preserve your right to appeal;
- You must file a statement of the issues presented on appeal within 14-days of the Notice of Appeal; and
- You must file an appellate brief with the court and serve it upon the government within 40-days after filing the record on appeal.
Therefore, it is absolutely vital to contact experienced federal criminal appeals attorneys immediately. However, preserving your right to direct appeal is just the start of the complex appellate process which involves questions of constitutional law, criminal law, the law of evidence and case law underlying the interpretation of the many statutory laws in place.
Contact our Alabama federal appeals lawyers at 1-800-APPEALS for a free consultation.
The federal criminal appeals attorneys at our boutique firm believe that you should not be punished for the mistakes of others. We help safeguard your Constitutional rights by examining the trial process, analyzing the trial court record and bringing to light appealable errors including the following:
- Evidentiary issues involving large-scale narcotics sweeps, undercover officers, wiretaps, GPS tracking, cooperating witnesses, warrantless searches, illegal dog sniff searches and unconstitutional searches of your home, business or curtilage (4th Amendment);
- Convictions based upon improperly admitted hearsay evidence, insufficient evidence, failure to disclose exculpatory evidence or supported by prosecutorial misconduct;
- Failure to provide due process of law, a fair trial, equal treatment, convictions based forced confessions or Miranda Rights violations or convictions that violate Double Jeopardy (5th Amendment);
- Deprival of the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to confront adverse witnesses including limited cross-examination testimony and the right to competent and effective assistance of counsel (6th Amendment); and
- Sentencing errors including misapplication of the United States Sentencing Guidelines, improper Guideline calculation, adjustments resulting in an increased or unreasonable sentence, errors involving restitution or supervised release or sentences amounting to Cruel and Unusual Punishment (8th Amendment).
Alabama Federal Criminal Appeals Attorneys that Advance Articulate Arguments on Appeal
All of the post-conviction relief is based solely upon the trial court record and presented to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in a written brief. So, a direct appeal is not a new trial or an opportunity to advance new arguments or defenses not presented and preserved in the trial court. Rather, a direct appeal is your opportunity to present a well-organized and well-written brief to a higher court explaining how you were denied a fair trial and what should be done. In Alabama, that higher court is the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. And, while there is no new jury, there are several judges that review the legality of your conviction, sentence or both instead of a single judge. But, these judges are busy. Therefore, it is very important that you put your best foot forward, and the best way to accomplish this is by crafting an appellate strategy, framing the issues and focusing on the most important legal errors. We are experienced and we can help.
Alabama Federal Criminal Appeals Lawyers that are Always in your Corner
The federal criminal appeals attorneys at our boutique firm will work with you to understand what happened during trial, how you rights were denied, violated and ignored and what needs to be accomplished to correct the errors. When called upon to appear for oral argument in front of the panel of judges on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, we will work tireless to streamline the finer points of your appeal and appear to speak on your behalf. Oral argument is the last opportunity for us to personalize your plight to the panel of the judges, and we take pride in being accomplished writers and orators.