The sentencing process for an assault crime in Lansing is always stressful, but it can be more so if the sentence in question is unfair, overly harsh, or just plain wrong.
If you've been convicted of an assault crime and wish to appeal the sentence or the case itself, then there are a few things you'll need to know. Assault crime appeals in Lansing require a skilled criminal appellate attorney who will work with you to go back over the facts of your case and look for any oversights or misconducts that may have led to your harsh sentence or wrongful conviction.
Most trials are usually considered to be fair, but there are a number of reasons why your trial could derail and result in a harsher sentence. In some instances, your constitutionally protected rights may have been violated, and you will need to go through an assault crime appeal.
Many appellate cases site problems with the juries and the people on them. Their previous experiences and knowledge can make them biased toward the facts of your case. There might also have been a conflict of interest, in which several jurors might be in some way affiliated with people involved in your case and found it necessary to pass a guilty verdict.
In other instances, a judge may step outside of his or her sentencing boundaries. Most assault crimes - be they misdemeanors or felonies - have certain guidelines for sentencing set down through the law. For example, a simple assault charge (Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 750.81) is punishable by law with jail time of no more than 93 days, a fine of $500, or both. If a judge were to sentence a person for six months for simple assault, then he or she would have just cause for appealing the case and seeing that it is taken down to a 93-day sentence or less.
Appealing the outcome of the case, rather than just the sentence, is not easy, but if you feel that certain evidence was ignored or your lawyer failed to provide you with a solid defense, then you may have a case for appeal. Not all lawyers are created equal, and some are much more dedicated to their clients than others.
The attorneys at Grabel & Associates treat all of their clients as their most important cases. They care about their clients' lives and want to see that no clients' rights are violated during the assault criminal trial process. Our attorneys will review the facts of your case and look for any instances of jury misconduct, conflicts of interest, or sentencing errors. We want to ensure that your rights are protected throughout this process so contact our law firm today.
Once you have decided that you will want to appeal your case, there are a few things that you may be able to do, such as:
In most instances, if a defendant accepts a plea bargain throughout the trial, then the motion for appeal is automatically forfeited. However, if the terms of that plea bargain are not honored, then you may have the option to file for an appeal.
To file for any of these motions, you will need to turn in paperwork to specific courts within a certain number of days. Depending on the nature of your assault crime and where the crime is prosecuted, you will have a certain number of days to file the paperwork for appeals in certain courts.
This can be a confusing process for many defendants who have just lost their cases. Rather than going at this alone, you'll need an experienced attorney who can help you get going on this assault crime appeal in Lansing. Don't wait to call Grabel & Associates today.
If you live in either Livingston or Shiawassee Counties, then you will be filing your appeal with the Clerk's Office located in Lansing. There are four Clerk Office districts total. Check out this map for more information.
The address for the Lansing Court of Appeals is here:
Hall of Justice
925 W. Ottawa St.
P.O. Box 30022
Lansing, MI 48909
District Clerk's number: (517)373-0786
District Commissioner's Office: (517)373-0786
The courtroom and Clerk's Office are both located on the second floor.
Assault crime appeals in Lansing are not something to be taken lightly. Successfully winning an appeal means that your sentence will be amended to fit the crime a person is convicted of. Losing an appeal means the sentence will stand as is, and it will be carried out to its fullest, which could mean excessive jail time and high fines.
At Grabel & Associates, we know how painful it can be to face an appeal just after you finished your criminal trial, but the appeals process must start almost immediately after the criminal trial ends. When starting the appeals process, you need a strong, aggressive lawyer who knows when judges have stepped over their sentencing boundaries. The attorneys at Grabel & Associates are on your side and ready to fight to see that your sentencing is fair and just.
Contact Grabel & Associates and start working on an assault crime appeal in Lansing. Our toll-free number is 1-800-342-7896, and you can also contact us online. Don't let a judge hand you an unfair sentence. Call Grabel & Associates today.