Criminal Appeal Lawyers in Worcester, Massachusetts

Appeals are a focus for our Worcester criminal defense attorneys at Murphy & Rudolf, LLP. We routinely appear before the appeals courts of Massachusetts and are known in these courts for the exceptional depth, cogency, and creativity of our briefs and arguments.

Call (508) 570-3037 or contact our firm online for skilled appellate advocacy in Springfield and Worcester 

Why Choose Murphy & Rudolf, LLP for Your Criminal Appeal?

Our appeals clients come to us because they know that winning on appeal, no matter the merit of their claim, is difficult. An appeals lawyer must know the law, and know it well; but just as important, he or she must be able to interpret the law.

Because the facts of every case are different, there is seldom a clear answer for whether a legal error has occurred. The successful appeals lawyer is one who can identify and articulate the principles that govern previous cases, and apply those principles to the unique facts of the case before him. At Murphy & Rudolf, LLP, we excel at this. Moreover, we enjoy it. Our Worcester appeals attorneys relish the opportunity that every appeal offers to play a part in shaping the law.

At our firm, we handle a variety of cases at the appeal level.

These include:

• Drug crimes
• Sex offenses
• Violent Crimes 
• Traffic Violations 

Types of Massachusetts Criminal Appeals

In Massachusetts, there are two types of criminal appeals: direct appeals and post-conviction appeals.

• Direct Appeals: Defendants can file direct appeals after they have been convicted and sentenced by a trial court. Direct appeals challenge a conviction or sentence on the basis that some legal error in the trial court affected the outcome. Direct appeals can raise various legal errors, including jury instructions, evidentiary errors, and trial judge rulings.
• Post-Conviction Appeals: In post-conviction appeals, the defendant has exhausted all of their direct appeals and has failed to reverse their conviction or sentence. In addition to collateral attacks, habeas corpus petitions are also called these types of appeals. Appealing a conviction or sentence post-conviction serves the purpose of challenging its validity based on a fundamental constitutional right, such as ineffective assistance of counsel or newly discovered evidence.

Mass appeals can be complex and highly specialized, so it's important to keep that in mind. A criminal defense attorney with experience in appellate law is highly recommended to anyone seeking to file an appeal.

If you feel that your legal rights have been violated in any trial or other legal proceeding, we welcome your call at (508) 570-3037. Secure the appellate representation you deserve!