Experienced Appellate Counsel for Challenging the Outcome of Criminal and Civil Proceedings in Shreveport
By itself, a lawsuit or trial can be daunting. The prospect of leaving your fate in the hands of a judge or jury can be uncomfortable. Worse yet is if you find yourself on the losing end of a trial. In such times, it’s important to have an attorney you trust to guide you through the appeals process.
Lee Harville is an experienced appellate lawyer who represents clients in criminal and civil appeals and writ proceedings at the state and federal levels. If you have questions about challenging the outcome of your case, Lee can explain everything you need to know. If you decide to file an appeal or seek a supervisory writ, Lee can provide insightful and strategic legal representation at every stage of the process.
Types of Cases We Handle
Lee represents clients in all types of federal and state cases in Louisiana. Whether you attempted to represent yourself pro se, had a public defender, or your private lawyer was unable to secure a favorable result, Lee can represent you in the next stages of the process.
Trial litigation and appellate proceedings are not the same. This is true in state and federal courts, and in all types of civil and criminal cases. As a result, if you need to file an appeal, seek a supervisory writ, or file for post-conviction relief, it will be important to have a lawyer with relevant experience on your side. Lee has experience representing clients in matters including:
Direct Appeals in Criminal Cases
If you need to appeal the outcome of your criminal case, you only have a limited amount of time to do so. Direct appeals are subject to strict deadlines at the state and federal levels, and if you wait too long to file an appeal, you could lose the ability to raise issues that could—and should—have led to a different result.
Once you get in touch, Lee can determine if you have grounds to pursue a direct appeal, and if you do, he can take the necessary steps to preserve your legal rights (as long as you get in touch in time). If you are facing unwarranted criminal consequences, you owe it to yourself to fight by all means available.
Supervisory Writs in Criminal Cases
If you need to challenge a decision in the middle of your criminal case, doing so may involve filing a petition for a supervisory writ. These, too, are complex legal proceedings that require experienced legal representation. If you have questions about seeking a writ in a Louisiana criminal case, we strongly encourage you to contact us right away.
Petitions for Post-Conviction Relief in Criminal Cases
Post-conviction relief is available in appropriate cases at the state and federal levels. If you have grounds to challenge your conviction but are not eligible to file an appeal or petition the appellate court for a writ, you may be eligible to file for post-conviction relief.
Lee handles post-conviction cases involving all grounds for relief—from the discovery of new evidence to prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel. Here too, Lee can provide a comprehensive assessment of your legal rights and help you make informed and strategic decisions about how best to proceed.
Civil Appeals and Writs
In addition to handling criminal appeals, writs, and post-conviction proceedings, Lee represents clients in select civil matters. If you have questions about filing a civil appeal or seeking a supervisory writ in a civil case in Shreveport, we invite you to contact us for more information about our civil practice.
Why It’s Important to Have an Experienced Appellate Lawyer on Your Side
Regardless of the circumstances of your case, if you need to challenge a judge’s decision, it will be important to have experienced legal counsel on your side. Here are just some of the reasons why:
- Honest Evaluation and Informed Guidance – First and foremost, you need an attorney with the experience to assess your case thoroughly and to provide an honest evaluation of your chances on appeal. Lee Harville can offer informed guidance, letting you know whether success is likely, unlikely, or even impossible before you make the decision to appeal.
- Meeting All Applicable Requirements – Second, you need an attorney who understands the intricate procedures involved in filing an appeal or a writ application. You need an attorney who can ensure that your appeal or writ application is submitted correctly and on time.
- Crafting a Compelling Case for Reversal – Third, you need an attorney who knows how to craft compelling appellate briefs and writ applications that effectively present your arguments to the appellate courts. Lee has the experience to shape your appellate argument in a way that maximizes your chances of success.
- Effectively Presenting Your Arguments in Court – Fourth, oral argument before appellate courts is crucial, and you need an attorney who can present your case persuasively in person and in writing. Lee has the experience and the confidence to advocate for you effectively during oral arguments, addressing any questions the judges may have and highlighting the key points of your case.
- Sound Advice Regarding Your Next Steps – Finally, whether you win or lose your appeal or writ application, you need an attorney who can provide sound advice on how to proceed. Lee can advise you on the next steps, including whether to seek further review from the Louisiana Supreme Court or the United States Supreme Court.
With experience filing briefs and arguing before multiple appellate courts, including the United States Fifth Circuit and the Louisiana Supreme Court, Lee Harville has the insights required to represent you effectively throughout the appellate process. Once you get in touch, Lee will be able to provide a comprehensive assessment of your legal options, and then you will be able to use this assessment to make informed and confident decisions about your next steps.
FAQs: Challenging the Outcome of Your Civil or Criminal Case in Shreveport
What is a “supervisory writ” in Louisiana State Court?
In Louisiana, a “supervisory writ” is a legal process that allows an appellate court to review a decision of a lower court while the case is still pending. Litigants must take the necessary steps to seek a supervisory writ, and they must be able to present a compelling case for why intervention is warranted. For these reasons (among others), engaging experienced legal counsel to seek a supervisory writ is strongly recommended.
What are the federal filing deadlines?
The federal deadline for filing an appeal in a criminal case is 14 days from the entry of judgment in most cases. Motions for habeas relief are generally subject to a one-year deadline, though various exceptions apply.
Even if you think the deadline for filing an appeal or seeking post-conviction relief may have expired, we still strongly recommend consulting with an experienced lawyer about your legal rights. In this scenario, it is critical to ensure that you make informed decisions and do not leave options to challenge your conviction on the table.
Are facts reviewed on appeal in Louisiana?
Whether facts are reviewed on appeal in Louisiana depends on the nature of the appeal filed. However, it is important to be clear that an appeal is not simply a retrial on the merits. Instead, an appeal is an entirely different legal proceeding focused on addressing issues with the trial itself. If an appeal is successful, this will result in a retrial in many (but not all) cases.
Schedule a Call with Shreveport Appellate Lawyer Lee Harville
If you need more information about challenging the outcome of a civil or criminal case in Shreveport, we invite you to get in touch. Contact us today to see how Lee can advocate for you from start to finish. To schedule a confidential consultation at The Harville Law Firm, LLC, call 318-222-1700 or tell us how we can help online now.