You’ve just heard the jury read the words “We find the defendant guilty.” Now what?

There are several avenues available for defendants in this situation. You can ask the judge for a new trial or to overturn your conviction. Or you can appeal.

One of the reasons court cases can drag on seemingly indefinitely is because our legal system is set up to protect innocent people from being convicted of crimes. To those on the outside, it can seem tedious and inefficient, but if you’ve been convicted of a crime, the appeals process is there to make sure you receive a fair trial and that you won’t go to jail for a crime you didn’t commit.

Similarly, post-conviction writs are orders from higher courts to lower courts to comply with specific instructions. Writs are typically issued when a defendant has exhausted all other appeals and used as a means to raise issues such as prosecutorial misconduct or mishandling of evidence.

Appeals and writs require the assistance of a skilled defense attorney to not only understand the complexity of the law, but also argue your case effectively before state and federal appeals courts. The attorneys at Richards Carrington have experience filing motions of appeals and presenting oral arguments to appellate courts, including the Colorado Supreme Court, and they will make sure you have the best chance of winning your appeal and avoiding conviction.