Michigan

Appeals & Post-Conviction Lawyer

When someone loses their criminal case and is convicted of a crime, they may think that all hope is lost. At Smith Lehman, we represent many clients in the appeal process both in state cases and federal cases.

However, the Appellate Court and Post-Conviction system is designed to allow a convicted person to request a review of another court’s decision because of some issue in the hopes of overturning the conviction.

If you or someone you love has been convicted of a crime and you’d like to look into your options for appeal or post-conviction, our legal team at Smith Lehman is here to help you figure it out.

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When someone loses their criminal case and is convicted of a crime, they may think that all hope is lost. At Smith Blythe, we represent many clients in the appeal process both in state cases and federal cases.

If you or someone you love has been convicted of a crime and you’d like to look into your options for appeal or post-conviction, our legal team at Smith Blythe is here to help you figure it out.

The Difference Between Appeals and Post-Conviction

By the time someone is looking for an appeals or post-conviction attorney, they may very well have been through the very worst situation they can imagine – not only being accused of a crime, but being convicted of it, too.

Unfortunately, mistakes that are not the fault of the accused during trial can and do happen in our legal system, leading to wrongful convictions and violations of people’s rights.

Mistakes or reasons a trial did not go the way it should have may include:

Judge makes legal error
Prosecutor misconduct
Ineffective assistance of counsel (trial attorney fails to defend you properly)
Insufficient evidence to convict
Newly discovered evidence

That’s where the appellate and post-conviction processes come into play.

Appeals

An appeal is a request to a supervisory court to change the legal ruling of a lower court. The supervisory court is usually composed of a panel of judges.

Post-conviction

Post-conviction relief allows the defendant to bring more evidence or raise additional issues in a case after they have been convicted.

Pleading guilty

When a defendant pleads guilty or no contest in Michigan, they do not have the right to appeal. However, they can file a trial court motion to withdraw the plea, or an Application for Leave to Appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals.

The Appeals Process

Appeals – before 42 days or 14 days in federal court; On appeal, the accused can attack the process by which he was convicted, or the sentencing, or both.
Whichever side loses at the Court of Appeals may file an Application for Leave to Appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court within 56 days of losing in the Court of Appeals.
If the accused loses in the state courts, he has the option of taking the case to federal court (US District Court) with a Petition for Habeas Corpus, which is restricted to issues already raised in the state courts that were “exhausted” as federal issues in the state courts. After that, there are potential appeals to the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, and US Supreme Court.
Motion for Relief from Judgment, also known as a 6.500 motion

Our Experience with Appellate Cases

The Michigan Court of Appeals is one of the busiest intermediate appellate courts in the country. That’s why having an attorney with appellate experience is so important.

At Smith Lehman, our criminal sexual conduct attorneys have in-depth experience filing appeals, as well as a variety of other post-conviction motions, including:

Claims of Appeal
Applications for Leave of Appeal
Motions for Reconsideration
Motions for New Trial
Motions to Withdraw Plea
Motions for Resentencing
Motions for Relief from Judgment

Motions for Bond
Motions Regarding Sex Offender Registration and Electronic Monitoring
Petitions for Habeas Corpus to US District Court

Certificates of Appealability
Briefing and Oral Argument at State and Federal Courts
Petitions for Writ of Certiorari to the US Supreme Court

Claims of Appeal
Applications for Leave of Appeal
Motions for Reconsideration
Motions for New Trial
Motions to Withdraw Plea
Motions for Resentencing
Motions for Relief from Judgment
Motions for Bond
Motions Regarding Sex Offender Registration and Electronic Monitoring
Petitions for Habeas Corpus to US District Court
Certificates of Appealability
Briefing and Oral Argument at State and Federal Courts
Petitions for Writ of Certiorari to the US Supreme Court

We also frequently work with other attorneys and have assisted numerous clients with the post-conviction or sentencing process. Together with the attorneys we work with, weare available to argue before the following courts:

Circuit courts
The Michigan Court of Appeals
Michigan Supreme Court

US District Courts (the Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan and Northern District of Ohio)

US Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court

Circuit courts
The Michigan Court of Appeals
Michigan Supreme Court
US District Courts (the Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan and Northern District of Ohio)
US Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court

Call 248-636-2595 for a free consultation

The attorneys at Smith Lehman are the most knowledgeable attorneys in their field. They zealously defend their clients in extremely difficult cases, despite having to make many personal sacrifices to do so. If ever in need of counsel, I would want an attorney of their caliber and with their dedication in my corner. There is no better choice than these ladies for excellent legal representation.”

~ Cheryl Sweeney

"

The attorneys at Smith Lehman are the most knowledgeable attorneys in their field. They zealously defend their clients in extremely difficult cases, despite having to make many personal sacrifices to do so. If ever in need of counsel, I would want an attorney of their caliber and with their dedication in my corner. There is no better choice than these ladies for excellent legal representation.”

~ Cheryl Sweeney

Female Genital Mutilation Charges Dismissed

Plea on Life Offense for MSU football player – no prison, jail, sex offender record, and after completing probation – no criminal record

Dismissal of Criminal Sexual Conduct Charges Before Trial

View More Results

Contact Smith Lehman

At Smith Lehman, we understand that mistakes are often made in our legal system, and that the results can be devastating. Due to time restrictions for filing motions, it is important to retain the services of an experienced and knowledgeable Michigan sex crimes lawyer as soon as possible. Our team will take the time necessary to carefully review every aspect of your case, conduct investigations and research, find any legal or procedural errors that occurred before trial, during trial, at plea, or at sentencing, and discuss what legal options you may have available to remedy any mistakes that were made.

Call 248-636-2595 for a free consultation

View map of our location

Fill out the form with the details of your situation to get started.

Contact Smith Lehman

Call 248-636-2595 for a free consultation

View map of our location

Michigan

Appeals & Post-Conviction Lawyer

Watch video

Watch video

The Difference Between Appeals and Post-Conviction

Mistakes or reasons a trial did not go the way it should have may include:

That’s where the appellate and post-conviction processes come into play.

Appeals

Post-conviction

Pleading guilty

The Appeals Process

Our Experience with Appellate Cases

~ Cheryl Sweeney

"

~ Cheryl Sweeney

Female Genital Mutilation Charges Dismissed

Read more

Plea on Life Offense for MSU football player – no prison, jail, sex offender record, and after completing probation – no criminal record

Read more

Dismissal of Criminal Sexual Conduct Charges Before Trial

Read more

View More Results

Contact Smith Lehman

Fill out the form with the details of your situation to get started.

Contact Smith Lehman

Fill out the form with the details of your situation to get started.