Tough Cases Deserve Tough Representation
Put My Experience on Your Side
Appeals
If you have been found guilty of a crime in Illinois or the federal courts and are dissatisfied with the proceedings of your trial, then you have the right to file an appeal. This right is guaranteed by the United States Constitution.
A criminal appeal requires an entirely different set of skills than fighting a case in the trial court. Appellate attorneys must review the entire record of the trial proceedings and search for errors. These errors, which may be grounds for an appeal, can occur when:
The trial judge erroneously admitted or excluded certain evidence
The jury received improper instructions from the court
The trial judge made improper rulings on objections, motions or other matters
The police did not follow proper procedure
Prosecutorial misconduct occurred
Your constitutional rights were violated
The sentence you received was unjust
Don't Let a Mistake Ruin Your Life
In a criminal appeal, written briefs are submitted. These briefs contain written arguments of law that attempt to persuade the appellate court to reverse the findings of the trial court and/or the jury’s verdict. Oral arguments are also presented to clarify the arguments presented in the briefs.
To properly prepare a successful appeal, you need an attorney who is familiar with the rules and procedures of the appellate process. You also need an attorney who has excellent writing ability as well as oral advocacy skills. Appellate attorney Eric J. Bell has handled many different types of criminal appeals – from complex drug conspiracy issues to death penalty matters. My various experiences as a former staff attorney for the Circuit Court of Cook County and as an active trial attorney have made me uniquely skilled at spotting errors in the trial court.
If you or a loved one needs assistance with a criminal appeal, contact me for a free initial confidential consultation.
Post-Conviction Remedies
Criminal appeals are limited to the record from the original trial. However, post-conviction remedies are not so limited. There are various types of post-conviction remedies: newly-discovered evidence petitions; motions of new trial; habeas corpus petitions; post-conviction petitions; and petitions for executive clemency. They are all unique and they all have their own specific purpose. Post-conviction remedies can be utilized to establish:
Actual innocence
Prosecutorial misconduct occurred
Certain trial witnesses were not truthful
Certain trial facts were incorrect
Your sentence was unjust
Other violations of your constitutional rights occurred
I have extensive experience with various post-conviction remedies and have successfully obtained relief for several of my clients through these processes.
Contact me for a free initial confidential consultation to determine which of these remedies is appropriate for you.