New York Criminal Appeals Advocates focuses exclusively on appeals and post-conviction relief — the specialized work of challenging a conviction or sentence after trial, in both New York State and federal courts.
An appeal asks a higher court to review the trial record for legal error. We prepare the record on appeal, brief the issues, and argue for reversal, a new trial, or a modified sentence before New York's Appellate Divisions and the Court of Appeals.
When state remedies are exhausted, a federal writ of habeas corpus can challenge custody that violates the U.S. Constitution. These petitions are governed by strict deadlines and exhaustion rules — timing and preservation are everything.
A motion under Criminal Procedure Law § 440.10 asks the trial court to vacate a judgment based on facts outside the record — newly discovered evidence, undisclosed material, or constitutional violations that a direct appeal cannot reach.
Post-conviction relief encompasses the collateral procedures that reopen a closed case. We evaluate every available avenue and build a coordinated strategy across state and federal remedies.
Violations of due process, the right to confront witnesses, the right against self-incrimination, and other constitutional protections can be raised on appeal or collateral review — and can be grounds to overturn a conviction.
When a prior lawyer's deficient performance deprived a defendant of a fair trial, that failure can itself be a basis for relief. We examine what trial counsel did — and did not — do, and how it affected the outcome.
How a trial was conducted matters. Improperly admitted evidence, flawed jury instructions, and other procedural mistakes can amount to reversible error when preserved and argued effectively.
An illegal or excessive sentence can be contested independent of the conviction. We pursue corrections, reductions, and resentencing where the law and the record support relief.
Every appeal begins with a careful reading of the trial record. Tell us about your case and we'll help you understand the options — and the deadlines — that apply.