Criminal Appeals Lawyer in Bethlehem Fighting for You
Mosser Legal Criminal Appeals Lawyers in Bethlehem, PA
A criminal charge has the potential to destroy many aspects of your life. Monumental life moments such as getting your dream job or buying a house can be put on hold or made impossible if you have a criminal conviction in your background. Criminal convictions, whether you committed the crime or not, will follow you for the rest of your life unless they are appealed or expunged.
Is your life being impacted by a criminal conviction, and you need to appeal? Mosser Legal may be able to help. At Mosser Legal, our criminal appeals attorneys have helped countless Bethlehem, PA residents get their lives back. You could be next. Contact our team today at (215) 567-1220.
Which Criminal Charges Can You Appeal in Bethlehem?
At Mosser Legal, our lawyers have helped many Bethlehem, PA residents appeal their criminal convictions. If you are dealing with a criminal conviction, it will be worth your while to contact our team. We will work tirelessly to get your criminal conviction appealed or expunged so you can get back to living your life. The most popular criminal convictions cases we handle include:
DUI – Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
DUIs are one of the most common criminal convictions in Bethlehem, PA. Some of the consequences you may have to deal with when convicted of a DUI include:
- Suspension of license
- Jail time
- Costly fines
Are you struggling to live your life because of a DUI conviction? Mosser Legal may be able to hel
Theft
Theft is a criminal conviction that will follow you no matter what. Whether you committed the theft crime fifteen years ago, or not at all but were convicted anyway, theft will continue to impact your daily life unless that conviction is appealed or expunged. At Mosser Legal, our experienced criminal appeal lawyers have helped Bethleham appeal criminal conviction that had to do with:
- Fraud
- Shoplifting
- Grand Larceny
- Burglary
Other Criminal Convictions
Our Bethlehem, PA attorneys have also appealed criminal convictions that included:
- Drug possession
- Aggravated assault
- Murder
- Kidnapping
How Long Does a Criminal Appeals Case Take in Bethlehem, PA?
The court system imposes strict deadlines on criminal appeals in order to keep the docket moving along. There are extensions to deadlines that, if granted, can extend the process, so the time it takes for your appeal to conclude and for you to receive a decision will vary from case to case.
How to File a Criminal Appeal in Bethlehem, PA
First, we file your notice of appeal. At that point the trial court will likely order us to file a Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal, required by the Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925. The trial judge will then issue a Rule 1925 Opinion setting forth the reasons for their decision to convict you.
Within 40 days we will file an appellate brief setting forth the legal reasons why we think your conviction or the sentence imposed on you was in error, attaching a transcript of your trial. The prosecutor has 30 days to file their brief in response, and we have the right to file a reply to that brief if we feel it is necessary to do so.
Your case is heard by a three-judge panel of the Superior Court. Unfortunately, we cannot know whether they will issue a decision in days or months because that depends upon their docket load. When your case comes up, the judges vote on the issues we’ve raised, and the vote need not be unanimous. If two of the judges agree, one of them will write an “Opinion of the Court” memorializing the reasons for their decision. The other judge in the majority may write what is called a “concurring opinion.” The judge who did not agree may write what is called a “dissenting opinion.”
What if My PA Criminal Appeal Fails?
If you lose your initial appeal, we can help you file a motion to have your case reviewed by a larger group of the Court’s judges. This is called an en banc appeal because the entire bench, not just three judges, will hear your case. If the Court agrees to hear your case en banc, we will follow the same briefing schedule as the initial appeal.
How Many Times Can I Appeal My Bethlehem Criminal Appeals Case?
If your en banc appeal fails, we can help you petition The Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear your case. If our state’s highest Court accepts your case for review, again, each side files briefs and oral argument before the Court is scheduled. Following oral argument, the Court will decide your appeal, issue a majority opinion, and perhaps issue concurring and dissenting opinions.
If you’ve exhausted all of your appeals, we can help you petition for Post Conviction Relief (PCRA) within one year after your last appeal concluded.
Your Rights During a Criminal Appeals Case in Bethlehem
Most commonly criminal convictions are appealed for one of three reasons: procedural errors during your trial, legal errors during your trial, or infringement on your Constitutional rights. The most common reasons to appeal a criminal conviction in Bethlehem, PA include:
- Prosecutorial misconduct
- Juror misconduct
- Judicial misconduct
- Ineffective assistance of counsel
- Improperly admitted evidence
- Tainted evidence
- Incorrect jury instructions
- Lack of sufficient evidence to support a guilty verdict
Other Types Of Appeals We Handle
Areas We Serve
Contact Our Bethlehem Criminal Appeal Attorneys
Have an experienced criminal appeals lawyer by your side. Todd Mosser has helped many defendants in Bethlehem with their appeals and PCRA petitions. Call Mosser Legal to get the justice you deserve.
