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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

What Are Grounds for Appeal in a Criminal Case?

The Cochran Firm's defense attorneys are committed to fighting every needed battle when your freedom is at stake. In some cases, that means appealing an unfavorable trial result and asking an appeals court to re-visit a conviction.

You can visit our criminal process page for more information about the legal system, but it's important to understand what an appeal is not. It isn't:
  • A second trial
  • A forum to introduce new evidence
You cannot appeal simply because you disagree with the jury's ruling. It is not sufficient to argue that the defense made the better case and the jury made the wrong decision.

Instead, a criminal case appeal relies on specific procedural grounds. You must argue that some element of the original trial was improperly conducted on either Constitutional or statutory grounds. Common disputes cited in an appeal include:
  • Improper jury instructions
  • Evidence admitted in violation of the law
  • Jury tampering
This is far from an exhaustive list. Criminal law is an exceptionally complicated field, and there are extensive rules of procedure. This means there are a number of ways a trial can go awry, and the grounds for appeal are many.

The Cochran Firm's defense attorneys will be vigilant in protecting your rights. If we believe anything improper has happened at trial and that the impropriety affected the result, we will vigorously pursue an appeal on your behalf.


If you need an experienced defense attorney, please contact The Cochran Firm today for a free consultation. 

posted by Admin at 10:49 AM

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The Cochran Firm handles Civil Litigation and Criminal Defense claims for clients throughout the United States of America. The information on this website does not constitute legal advice nor form an attorney-client relationship.Please contact The Cochran Firm today to schedule a free consultation.

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