The Benefit of Hiring a New Jersey Appeals Attorney

Before a trial, counsel spends months preparing a case — reviewing discovery, locating and interviewing witnesses, working with experts and investigators, walking through crime scenes, negotiating with prosecutors, attending court conferences, and making motions.

Everything seems perfect after all of that work. Both counsel and their client think the jury will see it their way. Then the unthinkable happens and the jury returns a guilty verdict. The client, who is now facing a criminal conviction, fines and other monetary penalties, the loss of important constitutional rights and, possibly, jail time, is left wondering what went wrong.

The Role of a Trial Attorney

Most clients believe that trial counsel simply made one or more mistakes that resulted in a loss, or that the system just let them down. That may be true, but the client’s case is far from over, and trial counsel may not be the best attorney for the next important step. Many trial attorney focus primarily on trying cases, and may therefore lack the very different skills necessary to guide a client through the appellate process.

Why Choose an Appellate Attorney?

Trial attorneys present cases to juries. Appellate attorneys present cases to panels of appellate judges. Appellate work is therefore very different from trial work. Even the best trial attorney may not have the skills necessary to review a trial record, research and develop arguments as to why the result at trial was wrong, and express those arguments in properly crafted appellate briefs.

Trial counsel may also have gotten so close to the case that they can no longer view it dispassionately. In that situation, a different set of eyes with new thinking and a fresh perspective can place even something as devastating as a loss at trial in a new light.

It sometimes pays to change attorneys. If you were dissatisfied with the result of your trial for any reason, speak to an experienced appellate attorney who may have new ideas about your situation and legal issues.

Contact James S. Friedman, Criminal Defense Lawyer

The Newark, New Jersey criminal defense firm of James S. Friedman, LLC, represents clients on appeal in state and federal appellate courts throughout the United States. If you were convicted of a crime in a state court, federal court or New Jersey municipal court, call us for a consultation at 866-484-1906 (toll free) or contact us online.