Sugar Land Federal Crimes Trial and Appellate Lawyer

Sugar Land Federal Crimes Trial and Appellate Attorney

Facing any kind of criminal charge is a scary and potentially life-changing experience. Many people are charged in the state criminal court system, but violations of federal laws lead to federal criminal court proceedings where the stakes are even higher. A skilled Sugar Land federal crimes trial and appellate lawyer can be a crucial asset to have on your side if you face any type of federal criminal charge.

Experienced Criminal Defense Representation for Sugar Land, TX, Trials and Appeals

Hochglaube & DeBorde, P.C., has the resources and experience necessary to provide comprehensive representation for criminal defense in the most challenging cases in Sugar Land and surrounding areas of Texas. Whether you are searching for a criminal defense attorney who understands federal criminal court procedure or you believe you have grounds to appeal a conviction, we can help.

Nicole DeBorde has earned a strong reputation as a leading criminal defense counsel in the Sugar Land area. Our firm has successfully defended many past clients in state criminal court as well as federal criminal court. We also have proven experience handling difficult appellate court proceedings for clients who have suffered mistakes of fact or mistakes of law that have resulted in wrongful convictions.

Understanding Your Right to Legal Representation

You have the right to legal counsel when you are charged with any crime in the United States. It is crucial to fully exercise this right and secure defense counsel at your first opportunity after an arrest for any crime. If you are arrested for a federal offense, a federal law enforcement agency is handling your case, and you need a defense attorney with proven experience representing clients in federal criminal court.

Hochglaube & DeBorde, P.C., can carefully review the particulars of your situation and work with you to develop a comprehensive strategy to try to avoid conviction if possible or mitigate your sentence if necessary. In every criminal case, the prosecutor has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and it is the defense attorney’s job to prevent them from accomplishing this.

Appealing a Federal Criminal Case in Sugar Land

An appeal is a process through which a convicted defendant petitions a higher court to review a lower court’s decision, citing mistakes of fact or mistakes of law that resulted in the wrong outcome. If you believe a recent conviction for a federal offense was a mistake, it is crucial to consult a Sugar Land federal crimes trial and appellate lawyer immediately.

US District Courts report that less than 10% of appeals are successful, and the rate is even lower for criminal cases. In order to successfully appeal the court’s decision, your attorney must be able to prove that a mistake led to an incorrect outcome in your case. Depending on the severity of your offense, you could face a difficult appeal process at various levels of the federal court structure.

Recently, the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a Texas death row inmate’s conviction after 27 years following the discovery that the prosecution’s key witness had been a paid informant who had recanted her testimony in 2011. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had previously denied an appeal that was filed on the grounds that the defendant was not given a fair trial.

This example is indicative of the fact that the appeals process is incredibly difficult to navigate without experienced defense counsel on your side. Hochglaube & DeBorde, P.C., can carefully address all aspects of your case in Sugar Land. You can rely on us to defend you in trial or navigate the federal criminal appeals process on your behalf. You have a very short time to file an appeal, so reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn how we can help.

FAQs

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Sugar Land Federal Crimes Trial and Appellate Lawyer?

The cost to hire a Sugar Land federal crimes trial and appellate lawyer largely depends on how much time the attorney must spend working on the case. The majority of criminal defense firms throughout Texas bill their clients by the hour, tracking time spent working on the case and regularly billing the client. Make sure you fully understand your chosen attorney’s billing policy at the outset of your case.

Can I File an Appeal Without a Lawyer?

It is possible to file an appeal without a lawyer, but the chances of success are very low. Filing an appeal for a federal criminal conviction is an extremely complex and technical process. US District Courts report that roughly 80% of all appeals are decided based on the strength of the appellate brief. The average person will be unlikely to draft a properly convincing brief or have the legal knowledge to cite specific mistakes of fact or mistakes of law in their proceedings.

How Do You Succeed With a Federal Criminal Appeal?

Success with a federal criminal appeal will require proof that some type of procedural misstep, mistake of fact, or mistake of law from a lower court resulted in an incorrect outcome, meaning the defendant’s right to a fair trial was violated in some way. Suppression of evidence that may have helped the defendant, the inclusion of inadmissible evidence, or proving other procedural errors can increase the chance of success with an appeal.

What Kind of Cases Must Be Reviewed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals?

Any cases in which defendants have received the death penalty are automatically sent to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for review. This is the highest appellate court in Texas for criminal cases, and the Texas Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in Texas for civil cases. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is comprised of a presiding judge and eight other judges chosen by Texas voters every six years.

Contact Our Sugar Land Federal Crimes Trial And Appellate Lawyer Team To Discuss Your Case

Ultimately, whether you are facing a federal trial or you need to appeal your conviction in federal court, it is crucial to have an experienced legal representative on your side. Hochglaube & DeBorde, P.C., has helped many Sugar Land clients through all types of criminal cases, and we are ready to put this experience to work for you. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Sugar Land federal crimes trial and appellate lawyer.