Houston Attorney Handling Post-Conviction Appeals
No matter how vigorously your attorney fights for you at trial, more defendants are convicted than are acquitted. As devastating as that is, you don’t have to give up. There are different types of post-conviction remedies you can pursue, beginning with a direct appeal. Attorney Paul Morgan is board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Direct Appeals
In most cases, you have the right to a direct appeal following your conviction and sentencing. An appellate court reviews the court file, including all motions filed and transcripts of hearings, including transcripts of your trial and sentencing. Your appellate attorney will point out to the court where errors occurred and ask for a reversal of your conviction or reduction in your sentence. No new evidence may be presented on appeal and the appellate court limits its review to what happened in the trial court.
Even if the appellate court agrees an error was made at your trial, in order for you to obtain a reversal of your conviction, the court must be convinced that the error was not harmless, which means if the error had not occurred, you would likely not have been convicted. This is a difficult task and requires the skill of a knowledgeable post-conviction attorney like Paul Matthew Morgan.
Motions
Texas has established rules applicable to motions for post-conviction relief that must be carefully followed. These motions are generally filed after an appellate court denies your direct appeal. This is an opportunity to present new evidence to a court which you could not do on direct appeal. If your conviction was in a federal court, you will file your post-conviction motion in the federal district court in your jurisdiction.
Other Post-Conviction Remedies Following Prison Release
Even if you’ve been released from prison, there may be other post-conviction issues that attorney Paul Matthew Morgan can assist with.
For example:
- A parole violation hearing
- A probation revocation hearing
- Having your name removed from the registry for sex offenders
- Restoration of your civil rights
- Pardon applications
- Expungement or sealing of your criminal record
Contact Paul Morgan Law Office, PLLC
If you believe that you or a loved one can benefit by engaging in post-conviction litigation, contact the Paul Morgan Law Office, PLLC, as soon as possible. In most situations, there’s a time frame that must be followed closely or you’ll lose your right to seek relief.
Although Paul Morgan Law Office, PLLC, is based in Houston, Texas, Paul Morgan is admitted to practice law in both state and federal courts. He assists clients throughout the entire state of Texas. If you need to speak with Houston criminal trial lawyer Paul Morgan, call 281-346-4351 or email the firm.
RESOURCE: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
RESOURCE: Texas Results of Appellate Procedure