South Carolina Appeals Lawyer

Those convicted of a crime in South Carolina can potentially face a prison sentence, as well as steep fines and court costs. Additionally, a criminal record can hinder your employment efforts for years to come. However, if you have been convicted of a crime, it is important to know that you may still have options available to reduce, reverse, or eliminate those penalties. In the right circumstances, you may appeal your criminal conviction by asking the court to take another look at your case.

Pending an evaluation of your case, a skilled defense attorney could work hard to help guide you through the entire appeals process. Read on to learn more about how an experienced South Carolina appeals lawyer could potentially make a difference for you.

What Is an Appeal?

An appeal is a legal review of a court’s decision. Higher levels courts, such as the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Supreme Court, conduct such reviews. Typically, an appeal arises when someone convicted of a crime believes a legal error occurred in their case.

Another common reason for filing an appeal is that the appellant’s defense attorney may have acted incompetently. Regardless of the reason for the appeal, anyone choosing to appeal their case in South Carolina should contact a professional lawyer as soon as possible, as strict deadlines exist regarding the timeframe in which someone can file an appeal.

The Appeals Process

Appealing a criminal conviction is a notoriously complex process that is fundamentally different from the trial process. For this reason, it is essential to secure the guidance of a seasoned appeals attorney serving South Carolina.

During a trial, the defendant can present evidence in their favor and argue their innocence in front of a judge and jury. During the appeal, however, there are generally no arguments about the factual issues decided by the jury.

Instead, an appeal focuses on whether a legal error occurred during the criminal case that resulted in a conviction. As noted above, these mistakes may be made by a judge or by the defense attorney. The goal of a criminal appeal is for the appellant to receive a new trial.

While the appeals process may seem like a lot of effort to undergo just to receive a new trial, this opportunity has to potential to change the appellant’s life. The goal of an appeal is to fix the error that occurred in the original trial so that the deck is not stacked against the defendant. A new trial gives the appellant another chance to argue their innocence in court.

Reaching Out to a South Carolina Appeals Attorney

An accomplished attorney could review the facts of your case and determine whether any kind of error occurred at trial. If so, your lawyer will fight to get you another chance in the criminal justice system. If you are concerned that the judge did not allow exonerating evidence at your trial or believe that your original defense attorney was ineffective, reach out to a dedicated South Carolina appeals lawyer today to schedule your initial consultation.