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State-Level Appeals

Criminal Appeals Lawyer in New Jersey

Most criminal defendants focus on winning at trial, and seldom consider the need for an appeal until after they are found guilty. This is a big mistake. A criminal defense lawyer who represents a defendant in a trial court must always think about the possibility of an appeal, and act to protect the client's appellate rights in the event of a loss at trial by creating a trial record that includes appealable issues in the event an appeal becomes necessary.

Representing Clients in State Court Appeal

At the New Jersey criminal appeals law firm of James S. Friedman, LLC, we handle appeals from criminal convictions in the New Jersey Superior Court, as well as criminal convictions from State-level trial courts throughout the United States.

Trial Issues That Lead to an Appeal

Many issues can arise at the trial court level that can be the basis for an appeal in a State criminal case. These issues include, but are not limited to:

  • Denial of a motion to suppress evidence;
  • Denial of a motion to suppress a defendant's statement to law enforcement;
  • Denial or a motion to admit evidence helpful to the defense;
  • Denial of a motion to dismiss the charges;
  • Denial of a post-trial motion;
  • Evidence disappeared or was tampered with prior to trial;
  • New evidence materialized but was not disclosed to the defense attorney or used at trial;
  • The wrong law was applied to the case;
  • The trial court's jury charge was wrong;
  • The sentence imposed was illegal;
  • The prosecutor made improper comments to the jury; or
  • Other improper conduct by the prosecutor or police that contributed to a finding of guilt, such as withholding information or presenting perjured testimony.

A seasoned New Jersey criminal appeals lawyer will recognize these issues and use them to craft strong appellate arguments.

Thorough Research and Careful Analysis

Appeals are usually based on legal errors that occurred at, or in connection with, the trial. A successful appeal stems from a careful analysis of all phases of the trial court proceedings including pre-trial motions, jury selection, opening statements, presentation of witness testimony and other evidence, closing statements, jury deliberations, and sentencing. We identify and skillfully explain all available arguments that can be included in an appeal.

When we are trial counsel, we begin to prepare for the possibility of appeal at the earliest stages of a case. We constantly seek to include issues in the trial record that are likely to provide the basis for an appeal. We know that a good trial attorney cannot assume that a jury will simply "walk" their client, and that effective trial counsel must start to prepare for an appeal by trying wherever possible to build appellate issues into the trial record.

When we are retained to handle an appeal for a client previously represented by another lawyer, we perform a thorough analysis of the entire trial record. We then honestly advise the client (and, depending on the circumstances, the client's family) about the appellate arguments that are available and the likelihood of success on appeal.

Our appellate practice is not limited to the courts of New Jersey. We have been admitted in other jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis to represent clients in criminal appeals. In such matters, we work with local counsel to take the appeal through that state's judicial system as efficiently as possible. As with all appeals, we strives to achieve the best possible results for his client under the unique facts and circumstances of their case.

Finally, we are sensitive to the costly and protracted nature of appellate practice. We always seek to advance appeals as efficiently as possible, finding ways to get the best result at the lowest cost to the client and their family.

Generally speaking, and under current law, defendants seeking to appeal a conviction of a New Jersey trial court have 45 days from the date they are sentenced to commence their appeal by filing a Notice of Appeal and related paperwork with the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court. If this deadline is missed, a defendant may be able to obtain a 30-day extension, but only if they have a very good reason. Missing both of these deadlines could result in the loss of the right to appeal. It is strongly recommended that any defendant seeking to appeal their conviction do so as soon as possible after sentencing. Do not wait until the last minute.

If you have been convicted of murder, carjacking, robbery, aggravated assault, sexual assault, a drug offense, or any other crime in New Jersey or any other State, contact New Jersey criminal appeals attorney James Friedman online or call 800-361-6554 (toll free) to schedule a consultation to discuss your appeal.


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Client Reviews
★★★★★
"I hired Mr. Friedman to represent my son in a criminal matter that could have landed him in jail. Nobody in our family had ever been involved with the criminal justice system before, so this was all very new to us. He was very patient, answered all of our questions, and made sure we understood everything each step of the way. By the time the case was over, my son had a reduced charge for which he only had to pay some fines." Anonymous
★★★★★
"Mr. Friedman represented me when I was one of several students caught with drugs in a college dorm room. I was set to graduate at the end of the semester, and thought this case would ruin my life. He got my charges dismissed, and the record expunged. This lawyer was a total lifesaver!" Anonymous
★★★★★
"Our daughter has mental health issues. She got into a scuffle with the police and was charged with assaulting an officer. Our attorney, Jim Friedman, was able to show the prosecutor and Judge that the real problem here was her mental stability. She was placed on probation and avoided jail time. Most other lawyers we spoke to refused to take this case, but Jim Friedman took it and got us a great result. Thank you Mr. Friedman!" Anonymous
★★★★★
"I had federal criminal charges and felt totally lost. I was one of who knows how many defendants in this case, and I read on the Internet that almost everyone in federal court end up with a prison sentence, so I was really scared. My first lawyer, who told me that I would probably spend at least some time in prison, barely gave me the time of day after I paid him. Then I hired Jim Friedman to represent me. He stayed with me throughout the entire process. He was always available to answer my questions, and never let me lose hope. He negotiated aggressively with the federal prosecutor and I ended up with a short term of probation. I knew I would get convicted of something, but this lawyer kept me out of jail." Anonymous
★★★★★
"The only part of my trial that was better than watching Mr. Friedman question the witnesses was when the jury came out and said “not guilty” over and over again. You have to see this lawyer in court!" Anonymous
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