Appeal Lawyer Atlanta, GA
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If you or someone you know needs assistance, please contact us at: (404) 282-4438
- What Is an Appeal?
- What Does an Appeal Attorney Do?
- What Issues Can Be Raised on Appeal?
- Appeals Courts and District Courts in Georgia: How Are They Different?
- Why Choose Strickland Webster, LLC
What Is an Appeal?
An appeal is a formal request for a higher court to review and possibly reverse a lower court’s decision. In civil cases, either party may appeal, while in criminal matters, the defendant typically has the right to challenge a conviction or sentence. However, appeals must be based on a valid legal issue such as a procedural mistake, improper evidence, or a misapplication of the law.
In some situations, prosecutors may appeal certain pretrial rulings or sentencing decisions. Defendants who entered guilty pleas may also have limited appeal rights and must meet specific legal requirements to move forward. Because of these complexities, working with an experienced Atlanta federal appeals lawyer is essential.
Strickland Webster, LLC represents clients in both Georgia and federal appellate courts. Our attorneys analyze trial records, identify legal errors, and craft persuasive written and oral arguments to protect your rights. Whether you need guidance on filing an appeal or pursuing post-conviction relief, our team is ready to help you seek justice.
Schedule a free consultation with a skilled appellate attorney in Atlanta to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
What Does an Appeal Attorney Do?
The purpose of appeals is to have a trial court’s errors reviewed by the appellate court. An appeals lawyer can prepare and file briefs that contain the factual matters presented in the lower court, arguments of law that analyze why a lower court decision is an error of law and standards of review that the appellate court used in order to review a lower court decision or order.
It is important to note that the briefs filed are usually restricted to the transcript of the proceedings in the lower court. So, the record of appeal is all that can be used to file an appeal.
What Issues Can Be Raised on Appeal?
In Georgia, the issues that can be raised on appeal are limited to those that were raised at trial. This means that if the issue was not raised in the trial court, it cannot be raised on appeal.
Additionally, the issue must have been raised on time and must have been adequately preserved for appeal.
Some of the most common issues that can be raised on appeal include the following:
- Errors in the jury instructions
- Prosecutorial misconduct
- Ineffective assistance of counsel
Additionally, the court can consider any procedural or constitutional errors that occurred during the trial. Strickland Webster frequently uses their extensive criminal defense and appeals court experience to provide services to their clients and to help prepare for effective litigation at the trial court level.
Appeals Courts and District Courts in Georgia: How Are They Different?
There are generally three main levels of courts:
- 1st level: District courts for trials
- 2nd level: Court of Appeals or Circuit courts, for federal cases
- 3rd level: The Supreme Court (both at the state and national levels)
Appeals courts differ from a district or trial-level court because they do not hear new evidence. They consider only the facts and legal arguments presented to them by both sides and any errors of law committed during the initial court proceedings.
The goal is for these higher-level judges to determine whether there was a miscarriage of justice at the lower levels. If so, you may be entitled to relief through the Georgia appeals process.
Georgia appellate lawyers know how best to present their clients’ cases before a judge in appellate courts. They can provide crucial advice, increasing your chances of success before the Georgia appellate courts.
Issues Can Be Raised on Appeal?
In Georgia, the issues that can be raised on appeal are limited to those that were raised at trial. This means that if the issue was not raised in the trial court, it cannot be raised on appeal.
Additionally, the issue must have been raised on time and must have been adequately preserved for appeal.
Some of the most common issues that can be raised on appeal include the following:
- Errors in the jury instructions
- Prosecutorial misconduct
- Ineffective assistance of counsel
Additionally, the court can consider any procedural or constitutional errors that occurred during the trial. Strickland Webster frequently uses their extensive criminal defense and appeals court experience to provide services to their clients and to help prepare for effective litigation at the trial court level.
Why Choose Strickland Webster, LLC
When the stakes are high, you need more than just another law firm. You need appellate lawyers who know how to win tough cases. At Strickland Webster, LLC, we bring knowledge, experience, and strategy to every appeal.
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Focused Appellate Knowledge: Appeals follow different rules, timelines, and standards than trials. Our attorneys understand the appellate system from every angle, giving you a clear path forward after an unjust result
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Proven Experience and Results: We have represented clients in complex criminal and appellate matters across Georgia and in federal court. Our firm has built a strong record of success through preparation, precision, and dedication.
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Powerful Legal Resources: Behind every attorney is a team of paralegals, legal researchers, and investigators who work together to uncover every opportunity for a better outcome.
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Personalized Attention: You are never just another case. We intentionally limit the number of appeals we take so each client receives the focus and tailored strategy they deserve.
When your future depends on the outcome, trust Strickland Webster, LLC to fight for the justice you deserve. Contact us today to start your appeal.
Federal Court
- Criminal charges, including in the Northern District of Georgia
- Appeals to Circuit Courts, like the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
- Post-Conviction Motions, such as 28 U.S.C. 2255 motions, 28 U.S.C. 2254 petitions, and 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2).
State Court
- Motions for New Trial
- Appeals to the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court
- State habeas petitions
Who We Are
With a demonstrated record of success, the attorneys at Strickland Webster, LLC are well-equipped to represent you if you are facing federal criminal charges or if you have already been convicted in federal court or in the state of Georgia.
We want what’s best for each of our clients. Our team is accessible and prepared. This means that we will talk with you about your concerns, expectations, and objectives. We will dedicate time to explain to you the possible scenarios you might face.
Our goal is to help you achieve the results that you want, and we will do everything within our power to help you get there.
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We work together on each of our cases, ensuring that you always have a team of experienced professionals working on your case.
Strickland Webster’s Practice Areas
Our attorneys can provide the following services:
Criminal Defense
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Appeals
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Post-Conviction Relief
Our attorneys handle federal post-conviction motions, including petitions under 28 U.S.C. §2255 and sentence reduction requests under 18 U.S.C. §3582. We carefully review the record for legal errors, constitutional violations, or new evidence that could provide another opportunity for justice.
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Our Team
The attorneys at Strickland Wester, LLC are well-equipped to represent you.
Sydney Strickland
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Ole Miss, B.A., 2008
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Cum laude
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University of Alabama School of Law, J.D., 2011
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Magna cum laude
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Admitted to practice law in
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Alabama, 2011
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Georgia, 2015
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11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Staff Attorney’s Office, 2012-2015
Leigh Ann Webster
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Emory University, B.A., 2007
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Summa cum laude
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Harvard Law School, J.D., 2010
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Admitted to practice law in
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Georgia, 2010
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Southern Poverty Law Center’s Immigrant Justice Project, 2010-2011
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11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Staff Attorney’s Office, 2012-2015
Our Blog
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Leigh Ann Webster selected as 2024 rising star
Leigh Ann Webster has been selected to the 2024 Georgia Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in...
Leigh Ann Webster selected as 2023 rising star
Leigh Ann Webster has been selected to the 2023 Georgia Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in...
Strickland Webster’s client gets out of prison 15 years early
Our client, Robert, is freed from prison 15 years early after a lengthy court case in federal court. Attorney Sydney Strickland...
Our Results
Strong V. State, Supreme Court Of Georgia
At trial, A.S. presented a self-defense theory, and in response, the State introduced evidence of basically every bad thing he’d done in his life. As a result, the jury convicted him of felony murder and other associated crimes. We represented A.S. on appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, which held that the other evidence was improperly introduced at trial. Therefore, the Court vacated our client’s convictions.
WILKIN V. STATE, GEORGIA COURT OF APPEALS
M.W. petitioned the trial court for retroactive first offender status, so that he could remove his sole felony conviction from his record. We represented him on appeal, and argued that the trial court failed to conduct the correct analysis to determine if he was eligible for retroactive first offender status. The Court of Appeals vacated the order denying his petition and remanded for further proceedings. Read the opinion here.
United States V. Annamalai, Eleventh Circuit
A.A. was convicted of various crimes associated with his operation of the Hindu Temple of Georgia and sentenced to 327 months in custody. On appeal, we successfully argued that the government had failed to prove most of the crimes with which he was charged and that the district court had improperly calculated his sentence on the remaining counts. Read the opinion by clicking here, and check out an article from the Atlanta Journal Constitution here.
Portillo V. State, Georgia Court Of Appeals
R.P. was convicted of trafficking methamphetamine, despite a startling lack of evidence against him, and sentenced to 30 years in prison. On appeal, the Court of Appeals agreed that there was insufficient evidence to convict him, and we were able to get him released from custody within days of receiving the opinion. Read the opinion here.
Jackson V. Crickmar, Supreme Court Of Georgia
B.J. was convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison. His convictions were affirmed on direct appeal, and his habeas petition was denied. We represented B.J. on appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, which vacated two of his convictions. Read the opinion here. We represented B.J. on remand to the trial court, which reduced his sentence from 55 years to 15 years. B.J. is now home with his family.
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Areas We Serve
Strickland Webster, LLC handles criminal appeals and federal cases across Georgia and beyond.
We represent clients in:
- Federal Courts: Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Georgia
- Federal Appeals: 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (Georgia, Alabama, Florida) and 1st Circuit Court of Appeals (Northeast U.S.)
- State Courts: All counties in Georgia
- Federal Trial Cases: Northern District of Georgia
Wherever your case originates, our team is ready to fight for justice in state and federal courts.
Contact Strickland Webster for Appeals Assistance
Strickland Webster is a Georgia law firm offering its clients excellent legal representation and guidance throughout the appeals process. Our attorneys are knowledgeable in state and federal appellate practice.
We can help you regardless of whether your appeal is to the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, or the Eleventh Circuit.
Our experience in researching precedent cases, drafting briefs, and presenting oral arguments in higher state and federal courts may be just what you need.
Contact us today if you need help appealing a court decision against you from an experienced appellate attorney.
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