Our attorneys have handled more than sixty cases before the Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Appeals Court with a very high rate of success. We are successful because we are highly knowledgeable in criminal law, constitutional law, and criminal procedure. Based upon our knowledge and experience, we can identify errors made before, during, and after trial which may entitle our client to a reversal, a new trial, or a reduced sentence.
Our attorneys methodically review the case file and the trial transcripts to identify errors, actions or omissions by the prosecutor, the defense attorney or the trial court which may justify a reversal, re-trial or re-sentencing. An appeals court will generally not hear new testimony or consider new evidence so it is vital that an appellate attorney identify and argue all of the issues in the trial record which may support a successful appeal.
If you or someone you love has been convicted of a crime and you are considering an appeal, please contact Schofield Campbell & Connolly to schedule a free consultation. We will explain the appeals process, explore your options, and help you decide what to do next.
Please be aware that there are strict time limits for criminal appeals so you should move quickly if you are considering such an appeal.
- Direct Appeals
- Motions for New Trial
- Further Appellate Review
- Writs of Habeas Corpus
For more information on our Criminal Defense practice, please click here.
The exhaustive review of the record and the legal analysis involved in preparing an appeal and writing a brief can overwhelm a busy trial attorney. We have the experience and expertise to handle such appeals and to provide your client with zealous appellate advocacy. We regularly work with trial attorneys who want to be sure that their clients receive excellent appellate representation.
- Commonwealth v. Fernandez, Massachusetts Appeals Court (2010) (unpublished decision). Based upon arguments raised by our firm in an Application for Further Appellate Review to the Supreme Judicial Court, the Supreme Judicial Court remanded our client's case to the Massachusetts Appeals Court ordering the Appeals Court to review several recent decisions. In light of these new legal decisions, the Appeals Court reversed our client's conviction for drug trafficking.
- Commonwealth v. DaCruz, Massachusetts Appeals Court (2010) (unpublished decision). Based upon our argument that reversal was mandated by the United States Supreme Court's recent decision in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, 129 S.Ct. 2527 (2009) the Appeals Court reversed our client's conviction in this firearms case saving him from certain deportation.
- Commonwealth v. Edward, 75 Mass. App. Ct. 162 (2009). The Appeals Court reversed a Superior Court Judge's denial of a Motion for a New Trial. By raising issues of courtroom closure, SCC convinced the Appeals Court to reverse the decision and remand this matter for a full hearing on whether courtroom closure during the testimony of the complaining witness violated the defendant's 6th Amendment Right to a public trial.
- Commonwealth v. Armstrong, 73 Mass. App. Ct. 245 (2008). In addition to obtaining reversal of some of our client's convictions, we successfully argued for re-sentencing on the remaining offenses. After a remanded sentencing hearing, we convinced the trial judge to reduce our client's sentences resulting in a twenty percent (20%) reduction in the amount of time our client must serve.
- Commonwealth v. A.B., 72 Mass. App. Ct. 10 (2008). Due to our argument that trial counsel failed to investigate issues of sanity and that the trial judge failed to properly inquire as to our client's competency at the time of trial, we obtained a reversal of our client's felony conviction. On remand, we provided support to new trial counsel and helped to obtain an acquittal for our client.
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