If you have been convicted of an offense, your first step should be to consider an appeal. Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP attorneys are accomplished appellate lawyers with a track record of success on direct appeal.
But what happens when that fails? A criminal conviction can lead to devastating, consequences that extend long after any jail term or fine. The consequences of these wrongful convictions can include:
- Denial of professional licensure
- Denial of the right to vote
- Denial of the right to possess firearms
- Denial of the right to participate in certain federal programs
For non-citizens, including legal permanent residents, often the most devastating consequence of a criminal conviction is the threat of deportation or removal from the United States. A single conviction for an “aggravated felony” can lead to immediate removal, with no prospect of relief.
Where efforts to appeal have failed (or the time has run out for appeal), often the only remaining option is a petition for post-conviction relief. Post-conviction relief can be based on ineffective assistance of counsel (bad advice from a prior attorney) or misconduct by the prosecutor or the judge. These errors lead to thousands of wrongful convictions and un-informed pleas each year. Unfortunately, far too often attorneys who are unfamiliar with immigration law either fail to advise their clients about the immigration consequences of their case, or worse, they give affirmatively wrong advice. Both of these errors can be the basis for a post-conviction petition. BKLW attorneys are experts at navigating the complex area of post-conviction writs, and have accomplished life-changing victories for their clients.