Contact Mosser Legal for a Criminal Appeals Attorney in Lancaster, PA
If you’ve been unfairly convicted of a crime, or the sentence imposed upon you is too harsh, give us a call. We have helped hundreds of clients throughout Pennsylvania appeal their criminal convictions and sentences.
Put our experience to work for you. Contact your trusted Lancaster, PA criminal appeals lawyer today at 215-567-1220.
How Does the Criminal Appeals Process Work in Lancaster?
The court administration imposes strict deadlines in order to keep criminal appeals moving in Lancaster, PA. First we file your Notice of Appeal, then the trial court will likely order us to file a document called the Statement of Errors Complained of on Appeal under the Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925. The trial judge will then issue a Rule 1925 Opinion.
The Superior Court then orders us to file a legal brief setting forth the legal reasons why we think the conviction or the sentence imposed was in error. This usually happens within 40 days, and we must include a record of the trial.
After we file our brief, the prosecution has 30 days to file its brief which will set forth the reasons why the lower court was correct. We will then have the right to file a reply brief to the prosecution’s brief, if necessary.
Your case will then be submitted to a three-judge panel of the Superior Court, and at this point, a decision can be a few days or many months away. If oral argument is scheduled, the decision should be handed down shortly thereafter.
What Criminal Charges Can You Appeal in Lancaster?
Mosser Legal has helped hundreds of Lancaster clients appeal their criminal convictions. Our team of attorneys has over twenty years’ experience appealing the following types of criminal convictions, among others:
How Long Does the Criminal Appeals Process Take in Lancaster?
While every criminal appeal in Lancaster is different, we can give you a rough estimate of how long a criminal appeal takes. Overall, you can expect your Lancaaster criminal appeal to take between 12 and 16 months to reach a decision.
What Happens During the First 4-6 Months of Your Criminal Appeal
Necessary records will be prepared by yourself and your attorney. This will include documents regarding conviction, sentencing, any time served, a transcript of the trial, any and all evidence including police reports and witness testimony.
What Happens During the Following 3-5 Months of Your Criminal Appeal
The briefing schedule will dictate that our appeals attorneys will prepare and file a brief outlining the legal reasons your conviction should be overturned, you should have a new trial, or your sentence is too harsh.
What Happens During Months 6-12 of Your Criminal Appeal
The Commonwealth appeals attorney will write a reply brief to our brief, and we will have the opportunity to reply to that brief if necessary.
The Court may schedule oral argument, or not. Some matters are decided “on the papers,” meaning, decided based on the persuasiveness of the arguments in the briefs. This is why you need an experienced Lancaster criminal appeals attorney on your side.