Colorado Springs Felony Conviction Appeal Attorney
Appeal a Colorado Felony Conviction
A person who is convicted of a felony in Colorado may face heavy penalties, including prison time, fines, or other consequences. The trial and sentencing process is often confusing, frustrating, or overwhelming, and it's always possible that the judge, jury, or prosecuting attorney misinterpreted the law or that law enforcement officers violated the convicted person's constitutional rights.
However, a felony conviction and sentence do not mean the case is over. Each person who is convicted of a crime in Colorado, whether it is a felony or a misdemeanor, has an absolute right to appeal his or her conviction to a higher court. An appeal may lead to the guilty verdict being overturned, giving the convicted person the chance at a new trial or restoring his or her freedom.
An appeal is a court case that asks a higher court to review the decision of a lower court. When a person is convicted of a felony in a Colorado state court, he or she may appeal that verdict to the Colorado Court of Appeals. If the Court of Appeals upholds the verdict, the person may try to appeal their case to the Colorado Supreme Court.
Appeals offer an enticing way to overturn a verdict and get out of prison more quickly, but they aren't successful in every case. However, cases in which it appears that serious mistakes were made during the investigation or trial may be good cases for appeal. For instance, if the judge or jury obviously got the law wrong, if there wasn't enough evidence to support a conviction, or if a glaring violation of the convicted person's constitutional rights occurred during the investigation or trial, the person convicted under these circumstances should give serious thought to discussing his or her case with an experienced Colorado felony appeals attorney. An attorney can help you understand what happened in your case and decide whether or not appealing would be in your best interest.
Once the notice of appeal is filed, the person appealing his or her conviction, along with the attorney, has a limited amount of time to prepare an appellate brief. An appellate brief explains to the appeals court what went wrong in the convicted person's case and what should be done to correct it. Since appeals briefs often discuss detailed matters of criminal law, attorneys typically prepare the briefs based on information from the client and the trial record. Once the brief is complete and the two sides have exchanged briefs with one another and the court, the attorneys argue the case in person before the Colorado Court of Appeals. The court then decides whether to let the verdict stand or to overturn it.
In Colorado, persons convicted in state courts have only 45 days to file a notice of appeal, the first step in appealing a felony conviction. Since the time limit is so short, it's important to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible after a conviction occurs in order to ensure that time doesn't run out on the chance to appeal.
If you've been convicted of a felony in Colorado, please don't hesitate to contact experienced Colorado Springs felony conviction appeals lawyer Timothy Bussey at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. Mr. Bussey has handled a wide range of felony defense cases at both the trial and appellate level. He can examine your trial record carefully, determine the best grounds for your appeal, and help you fight to protect your rights.
Colorado Springs felony lawyer Timothy Bussey at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. in Colorado represents clients in Colorado Springs and throughout El Paso County, including the cities of Fountain, Manitou Springs, and Monument.
The Bussey Law Firm, P.C.
12 E. Boulder Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 475-2555
Fax: (719) 475-0046