Criminal Appeals, Post-Conviction Relief, Violation of Probation

Serving Clients in State and Federal Appellate Courts

Everyone makes mistakes. Some mistakes, however, have lasting and severe consequences. When judges make mistakes, the judge could allow illegally obtained evidence to reach the jury. Alternately, a mistake at the trial court level may prevent the jury from getting the information it needs to make an informed decision. In either event, when judges make mistakes, people can be wrongfully convicted. The appeals process gives appellate courts the chance to review the trial judge’s work and, if necessary, overturn the trial court’s rulings. If you have been convicted on a criminal charge but believe that the court made errors that led to your verdict, you need to speak to an experienced appellate lawyer immediately.

A Powerful Advocate in Appellate Litigation

Ron Johnson represents clients in appeals at both state and federal appellate courts. He is licensed to practice law in Florida state courts and in federal courts across the United States.

A criminal appeal is very different from a criminal trial. Appellate courts will only consider whether there were mistakes of law at trial. The trial court’s determination of the facts cannot be the basis of an appeal. Examples of errors of law include the wrongful admission or exclusion of evidence, as well as errors in instructing the jury on the law.

There are no witnesses in an appeal. Rather, each side prepares and submits written arguments (called “briefs”) regarding the issues. It is critical that your lawyer is able to narrow down the issues and write a compelling brief based on the trial court’s errors of law. In addition, the appellate court may call for oral arguments. Ron Johnson will be prepared to provide a strong case in both written briefs and oral arguments.